Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Osun State, Dotun Babayemi and Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, have appealed to voters, political parties and their supporters to shun violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Babayemi, Director-General of the Osun West Governorship Campaign Council of the APC, made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday through his media office in Osogbo.
He urged residents to participate fully in the election but warned against killings, destruction of property and other acts capable of turning the contest into a violent confrontation.
“The task before all of us is to choose a new governor and this we can do peacefully through our votes without maiming, killings or destroying property,” Babayemi said.
He said political differences should not override the shared interest of Osun residents, stressing that elections would come and go while the state would remain.
Babayemi urged voters to support the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, whom he described as prepared to deliver transformational and people-centred governance.
Oyebamiji is the APC candidate for the August 15 election, with Benjamin Adereti as his running mate.
Babayemi’s appeal comes amid growing concern over political tension ahead of the poll.
Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had earlier warned political parties and residents against violence, stressing that nobody would be allowed to commit crimes or kill people with impunity.
The police chief, who visited Osun during a stakeholders’ engagement, said the election should not be treated as a war and urged political actors to work towards a peaceful process.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has also intensified preparations for the election, including measures aimed at monitoring and mitigating electoral violence.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker and APC chieftain, separately urged candidates, political parties and their supporters to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
He said no political ambition was worth the life of any citizen and appealed to eligible voters not to allow fear to prevent them from exercising their constitutional rights.
“Osun voters must not allow fear to discourage them from exercising their civic rights. They should come out in large numbers to vote,” he said.
Oyintiloye also urged security agencies to operate professionally, neutrally and with accountability, saying anyone found guilty of violating the law should face the appropriate legal consequences.
“Anyone found to have violated the law, irrespective of political affiliation or status, should face appropriate legal consequences. There must be no impunity,” he said.
He called on political leaders and their supporters to moderate their language, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and allow the electoral commission to conduct a transparent election.
According to him, aggrieved parties should seek redress through legal channels rather than resort to violence.
Babayemi also used the occasion to highlight a three-day medical outreach organised across Orile-Owu, Tonkere and Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government Area.
According to his media office, about 10,000 people benefited from free medical services during the exercise, including blood pressure and blood sugar checks, consultations, medications, eye care and health education.
Patients requiring further medical attention were reportedly referred for additional treatment, with the associated costs borne by Babayemi.
He said healthcare should not become a luxury for residents, while expressing concern over the condition of some primary healthcare centres in the state.
The APC chieftain maintained that the outreach demonstrated the party’s connection with grassroots communities and its focus on the welfare of residents.
With the Osun governorship election drawing closer, the calls from the two APC figures add to wider appeals for a peaceful contest in which voters can freely exercise their franchise and political disputes are settled through lawful means.
