The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured stakeholders that the outcome of the August 15 Osun State governorship election will reflect the will of the people.
The assurance was given on Thursday by the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Oluwatoyin Babalola, during a multi-stakeholder roundtable on legal compliance and electoral integrity held in Osogbo.
Speaking at the event organised by the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative, Babalola said the commission remains committed to conducting a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive election in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
According to her, electoral integrity depends not only on transparent procedures but also on the conduct of political parties, election officials and other stakeholders before, during and after the poll.
She stressed that compliance with electoral laws remains the strongest safeguard against disputes and electoral irregularities.
Babalola expressed confidence that the commission would continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with professionalism, neutrality and integrity.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative and South-West Coordinator of the Youth Electoral Reform Project, Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, said the recent Ekiti governorship election exposed operational and legal gaps that should be addressed before the Osun poll.
She particularly raised concerns over the electronic transmission of election results, urging INEC to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act during the Osun election.
Aladejare-Salako said the stakeholders’ meeting was organised to identify lessons from the Ekiti election and strengthen transparency, credibility and inclusiveness ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
The Osun governorship election will feature candidates from 14 political parties, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
