Residents of Osun have expressed concern over increasing political violence and killings ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, saying the development could affect voter turnout.
Some residents also expressed concern over whether the election would be peaceful and free from any form of inconclusiveness or cancellation.
A civil servant, Mr Seun Akinboboye, said the political tension and killings ahead of the election might scare voters away from exercising their franchise.
Akinboboye urged political actors contesting the election to ensure that their supporters played by the rules to avoid violence.
He also appealed to security agencies to provide adequate security for voters on Election Day to enable them to perform their civic responsibility.
Similarly, Mrs Demilola Olasunkanmi, a business owner, said the rate at which political thugs were heating up the polity demanded urgent attention, adding that security must be beefed up during and after the election.
Olasunkanmi urged security personnel to allow only essential workers on duty to move around during the election to ensure the safety of voters.
She also advised residents to remain careful and vigilant to prevent any unforeseen situation during and after the election.
Another resident, Mrs Elizabeth Oluwatoyin, decried the political violence in the state, saying she and her family feared for their safety and would not go out to vote.
“All these politicians are the same. It is always about their selfish interest and enriching themselves and their families.
“I will not, because of the election, let them kill me. They have been killing each other for the past two to three months.
“I have told my daughter to be careful and not discuss politics anywhere, so they don’t turn her into their target.
“Likewise, I have appealed to my husband not to risk his life for any politician because, at the end of the day, the politicians will reconcile.
“As the whole thing is going, I don’t think anybody from my family will go out and vote in this coming governorship election,” she said.
Similarly, an elderly resident, Mr Ajeniwura Adeoye, said the level of intimidation and violence ahead of the election could discourage many people from coming out to vote.
He, however, said he was determined to ensure that his vote counted.
“Look at me, I am almost 70 years old and I have been voting since 1979.
“I cannot be intimidated at my age and prevented from coming out now to vote for the candidate I want.
“I know the killings and shootings are intended to discourage people from coming out to vote.
“I know a lot of people will be concerned about their safety, but I will just admonish them to come out and exercise their franchise to choose who they want to govern the state.
“The police have given assurances that they will provide security, so people should trust the police and come out to vote,” he said.
He, however, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain an unbiased umpire and called on security agencies to provide adequate security for voters on Election Day.
A businesswoman, Mrs Ronke Ajibade, said she expected a peaceful election devoid of bloodshed and killings.
Ajibade said she was eager to vote on Election Day if the security situation in the state remained calm.
She appealed to candidates and their political parties to play by the rules and shun all forms of violence.
A resident of Owode-Ede, Mr Olawale Ibrahim, said the way politicians were going about the election was frightening.
Ibrahim said that if the tense situation was not brought under control, voters might be scared of coming out to vote.
He urged political actors to see the election as a contest in which there would be a winner and a loser, rather than a do-or-die affair.
There have been a series of killings in the state ahead of the election, with political parties trading accusations and counter-accusations.
