The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA Africa ) through its Watching The Votes (WTV) project have vowed to expose any attempt to compromises the integrity of the Saturday gubernatorial election in Osun State.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, the Co-Chair of YIAGA Africa, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, said the group has put necessary machineries in place to monitor the election.
She expressed concern over the growing rate of fake news and misinformation in the state.
Abdullahi said that such spread of fake news and misinformation could impact negatively on the outcome of the election.
She said the group also observed the peaceful and calm atmosphere in the state less than 48 hours to the election, saying the people of the state should be commended for the peaceful disposition.
Abdullahi also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its level of preparations for the election.
She, however, called on the security operatives on election duty to uphold the principles of non-partisanship, transparency and professionalism during the election.
Abdullahi added that as noted during the Ekiti governorship election, the Osun election may be decided by the highest bidder.
She said it was noticed during the group pre-election observation that voters were induced with gifts and money.
Abdullahi, however, said the group would deployed 500 stationery observers to 250 polling units and 32 mobile observers to all the 30 Local Government Areas in the state.
“Watching The Vote calls on Osun voters to go to the polls confident that their votes will count”, Abdullahi said.
