As the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, prepares for Osun State governorship re-run election on Thursday, key foreign missions in Nigeria are united in appealing for calm, orderliness and end to vote buying.
While calling for greater peace and orderly conduct during the rerun, the missions of European Union, United Kingdom and the United States commended INEC for the polls held on Saturday.
The election, which held on Saturday, was declared inconclusive, following inability to conduct voting in seven polling units across three local governments.
Candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Gboyega Oyetola and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, Ademola Adeleke, were in a tight race at the polls.
In a joint statement shared by the information unit of the US Embassy, the three missions
“We urge that all continue to support a peaceful, free, fair, and credible completion of the process as INEC re-runs the election in seven polling units where, through no fault of their own, voters were not able to cast their votes and have them counted last Saturday.
”We stress the importance that the re-run should take place without any violence, intimidation, or vote buying.
”We commend the people of Osun State for voting peacefully, the Independent National Electoral Commission for the improved organisation of the election, and security services for their conduct.”
