Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that following the planned deployment of heavy security personnel, some of the residents may have resorted to arming themselves with traditional substances believed to be mystical power (charms) in preparation of the governorship election.
It was further revealed that though, some of the politicians in the state are without this traditional means of defence, it was gathered that the manner with which the substances is being circulated among politicians in the state now assumed alarming rate.
When inquiries were made on why charms and other self defence means was being resorted to, they retorted that it is for self-defence and protection against any harassment and intimidation from conventional security personnel.
The planned deployment of heavy security personnel for the election has continued to generate controversies among political parties especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
The PDP is boasting round the rallies in the state that they will use security personnel to claim the state from the APC as it was done in Ekiti State, explaining that the heavy presence of security personnel will ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order and election will go as expected.
But the APC has condemned the deployment of heavy security personnel to Ekiti State on June 21 and the planned deployment to Osun State, saying that it was a ploy to militarilise electoral process in the country.
It said using military in electoral process is against the constitution of the country adding that it amount to misuse of power on the part of President whose power for deployment resides on.
Alhaji Waheed Lawal, a human right activist based in Osun said that the involvement of the military in the electoral process has removed the free will and choice of the people to cast their vote for candidate of their choice.
He said that the deployment of military was aimed to harass and intimidate the people who he said must have the free will and choice to elect their leaders.
He declared that the major assignment of the military is to defend the territorial entity of the country against external threats and foreign incursion. Lawal maintained that police, civil defence and other security operatives are enough to maintain law and order in an election period adding that soldiers are not needed for internal issues except for extreme cases such as insurgency.
According to him, “deployment of soldiers for electoral process is another form of harassing the people. The moment you bring in soldiers there is no longer free choice for people to select.
Source: Daily Independent