Reporting Period : July 20 – August 16, 2018
Executive Summary
YIAGA AFRICA, a non-governmental, civil society organization committed to promoting electoral democracy and citizens participation, is conducting a comprehensive, long-term pre-election observation of Osun 2018 Governorship election under the Watching the Vote (WTV) project.
The pre-election observation commenced in July 20, 2018 by 31 WTV Long Term Observers (LTOs) in the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Osun State. Accordingly, this pre-election report presents information on Osun pre-election environment for the period of July 20 to August 16, 2018, as the first of the four reports for the Osun 2018 Governorship Election.
YIAGA-WTV pre-election reports will provide information about INEC’s activities, voter education campaigns, political party campaign and activities of marginalised groups throughout the pre-election environment.
Summary of Findings:
There is impressive and visible election preparatory activities undertaken by INEC in the state. Over half (65%) of WTV LTOs reporting from 20 of the 30 LGA’s in the State reported witnessing election preparatory activities undertaken by INEC and over a quarter (35%) heard of election preparatory activities undertaken by INEC, in the state. Distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) is ongoing in all the 30 LGAs of the state.
There is visible voter education campaigns by both INEC and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). Voter education programming and messaging targeted at marginalized groups, such as youth, women and people with disabilities (PWDs) was observed by WTV LTOs in 25 of the 30 LGA’s which includes; Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ifedayo, Irepodun, Ila, Odo-Otin, Olorunda, Oriade, Orolu, Osogbo, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Ilesha East, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejirgbo, Isokan, Iwo, Ola-Oluwa, and Irewole LGAs.
There is minimal political parties’ activities especially campaigns rallies, across the state. None of the major political parties in the state (ADP, APC, PDP and SDP) conducted party rallies in Boripe, Ifedayo, Ifelodun, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Obokun, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Irewole, Isokan LGAs.
Voter inducement through the distribution of money and gift items by politicians and their supporters is visible in the state. 45% of observers (14 of 30) reported seeing the distribution of money or gift items in Boripe, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ife North, Ife South, Obokun, Ede North, Egbedore, Boluwaduro, Ila, Irepodun, Iwo LGAs.
Early warning signs of election violence were observed in some LGAs. The most prevalent events observed and reported by WTV LTOs were destruction of candidates and parties posters and violent physical or verbal attacks on contesting candidates.
There were reports of fighting between communities or groups over resources in Olorunda, Boluwaduro, Ilesha West, Ife Central and Egbedore LGAs of the state.
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