Observer Groups Warn NURTW Against Partisanship, Decry Rising Violence Ahead of Osun Governorship Poll

By Joseph Sunday 

A coalition of accredited Civil Society Organisations has warned members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, against partisanship in the Osun State governorship election and decried rising political violence ahead of the poll.

Under the aegis of the Osun Election Civil Society Observers Coordination Group, the coalition called for a free, fair, credible and peaceful election on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, the National Secretary Campaign for Democracy (CD), Comrade Femi Lawson, said the group comprises credible observer organisations that have monitored elections in Nigeria since 1999. He said its members have been in Osun since Monday to assess preparations and engage stakeholders.

Lawson said the observers have no interest in who wins the election, but are partners with INEC and other stakeholders in protecting electoral integrity and the will of the people.

On preparedness, the coalition commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for its work so far, including stakeholder engagements, logistics deployment and the recent mock accreditation exercise.

“From all indications, INEC appears ready for this election,” Lawson said, noting that the commission had addressed concerns raised by political parties, the media and civil society.

He described the Osun poll as the first major test for the new INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, saying what the coalition has seen suggests a commitment to a credible process.

The group however urged the commission to ensure prompt delivery of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all polling units, with clear contingency plans for difficult terrains and hard-to-reach areas.

It expressed concern over hitches recorded with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, during the mock exercise.

“BVAS cannot afford to fail on election day. Where there is no accreditation, there is no election,” Lawson warned, urging INEC to deploy adequate technical personnel, functional devices and backup systems.

Concern Over NURTW, Security:

On logistics, the coalition said while the NURTW has been a long-standing partner of INEC, reports of partisan disposition by some union leaders were dangerous for democracy.

It called on all transport personnel engaged for the election to remain neutral and professional, and warned against deliberate delay, diversion or compromise of electoral materials. It also urged political parties, the media and observers to closely monitor the movement of materials.

The coalition expressed deep concern over the security situation, condemning reports of killings, attacks and political violence.

Lawson called on security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, to act professionally and without partisanship, and to investigate all cases of violence regardless of political affiliation. He specifically condemned inciting statements attributed to political actors, including a reported “kill them” statement, saying such utterances are capable of inflaming tensions.

“People who have threatened violence should be invited, questioned and made to commit to peace,” he said.

Call for Peace:

He appealed to all political parties and candidates – including AAC, PDP, APC, Accord and others – to call their supporters to order, stressing that party members constitute less than 20 percent of those who will decide the next governor.

“No political ambition is worth the blood of any Osun citizen. This election must be a contest of ideas, programmes and records, not a battle for power,” he said.

The group also commended President Bola Tinubu for not allowing the Federal Government to be used to destabilise the Osun election, saying the President’s public statement had debunked insinuations that his name was being used to influence the process.

In his remarks, Engr. Uzoma Uche, Director General of the New Dimension Network for Peace Initiative, urged the Inspector General of Police to ensure police neutrality, protection of lives, and safeguarding of votes from polling units to collation centres.

He urged voters to come out en masse, vote and stay to monitor their votes and ensure results are uploaded at the polling unit, while warning party agents against vote-buying and campaigning at polling units.

The coalition urged voters to reject vote-buying, saying “your vote is your power and your future.”

In its formal press statement, the group said the August 15 election is not just about choosing a governor but about strengthening democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections, and pledged to continue independent observation across the state.