Osun Residents Demand Free Elections Ahead of August 15

On Wednesday, residents of Osun State stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo, demanding free and fair elections ahead of the governorship election scheduled for August 15. The protest was organized by a coalition of concerned citizens, including market women, market men, youth, and students.

They called for clarification regarding claims made by REC Oluwatoyin Babalola, who was accused of potentially influencing the outcome of the forthcoming election. During the demonstration, resident Adeyemi Samson urged INEC to ensure that the elections are peaceful and free from voter manipulation, allowing citizens to vote for their preferred candidates and ensuring that votes are counted accurately.

A hair stylist, Adebayo Omowumi, also made a plea for peaceful elections. The coalition's chairman, Musa Akinkumi Abdulsalam, demanded that INEC publicly assure residents of the transparency of the electoral process.