The Thamani for Women and Youth Development Initiative (Thamani) has raised concerns over the growing incidents of killings, violent attacks, threats, intimidation and religious rhetoric ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15.
The organisation said the reported violence surrounding the election had reached an alarming level, warning that continued attacks could undermine citizens' right to participate freely in the democratic process.
Thamani, in a statement signed by its Programme Director, Nicholas Oshojah Afeso, cited figures from the Nigeria Police Force and a pre-election security risk assessment conducted by Kimpact Development Initiative.
According to the organisation, the Nigeria Police Force disclosed on July 7 that it had received reports concerning 30 cases of alleged politically motivated killings in Osun State.
It added that the Kimpact Development Initiative's assessment documented 73 election-related violent incidents and 29 deaths, with 78 per cent of the incidents occurring between May and July as political activities intensified.
The assessment reportedly identified shootings, killings, assaults, intimidation, kidnappings and destruction of property, warning that violence was becoming concentrated in politically strategic locations where it could suppress voter turnout and influence electoral outcomes.
Thamani also referenced a protest by women in Osogbo on August 10 against political violence, killings and alleged police intimidation.
The protesters reportedly demanded an election in which citizens would be able to reach their polling units, vote freely and return home safely.
The organisation further noted that the Osun State Police Command on August 12 summoned Senator Francis Fadahunsi over remarks reportedly threatening members of the Accord Party.
Fadahunsi, however, has disputed the interpretation of his remarks, saying his comments were misrepresented.
Thamani condemned all killings, threats and acts of intimidation, irrespective of the political affiliations of those involved.
“These are not ordinary incidents in a heated political contest. Twenty-nine deaths are twenty-nine human lives,” the organisation said, stressing that the victims were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, neighbours and citizens whose lives could not be replaced by an election result.
It declared that “no governorship seat is worth one Nigerian life” and warned that political disagreements lose their democratic meaning when they are settled through violence.
The group also expressed concern over reports that armed men attacked personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) involved in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards in Odo-Otin.
It said the development, alongside the reported protests and alleged threats by political actors, demonstrated the need for urgent intervention by security agencies and political stakeholders.
Thamani cited Section 97 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said prohibits a party, candidate or person from directly or indirectly threatening another person with force or violence to compel political support or prevent support for a candidate or political party.
The organisation, however, cautioned that legal protections would have little meaning if threats were made publicly, citizens were killed and enforcement was influenced by political affiliations.
Thamani therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide firm national leadership ahead of the election.
It urged the President and the Federal Government to make clear that political violence and partisan use of federal institutions would not be tolerated, stressing that every citizen in Osun State, irrespective of political affiliation, deserved equal protection under the law.
The organisation also called on security agencies to investigate killings, threats and violent attacks promptly and impartially, insisting that anyone found culpable should face the law regardless of political connections.
It further demanded transparent investigations into allegations against security agencies, arguing that neutrality must be demonstrated through conduct rather than merely declared.
Religion Must Not Become a Weapon
Thamani also raised concerns over what it described as an increasing attempt to frame political entitlement through religious identity in the Osun governorship contest.
It noted that some Christian groups had publicly argued that the next governor should be a Christian, citing historical representation and perceived marginalisation.
According to the organisation, Muslim groups subsequently challenged those claims and advanced their own arguments concerning Muslim representation and exclusion.
Thamani said questions surrounding inclusion, fairness and discrimination were legitimate matters for public debate, but warned against turning religious identity into a tool for political mobilisation or exclusion.
It called on religious leaders and political actors to encourage peaceful participation and issue-based voting rather than religious confrontation.
The organisation made six key demands ahead of the election.
It urged the President and Federal Government to reaffirm zero tolerance for electoral violence, voter intimidation and partisan interference by state institutions.
It called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies to strengthen protection in identified high-risk areas, investigate credible cases of killings and threats, prevent retaliatory attacks and enforce the law without political considerations.
INEC was urged to strengthen security around election personnel, sensitive materials, polling units and collation centres, particularly in identified hotspots, to prevent insecurity from disenfranchising voters.
Political parties, candidates and campaign leaders were also asked to publicly renounce violence and religious incitement and discipline supporters who issue threats.
Thamani further called on Christian, Muslim and traditional religious leaders to reject attempts to turn religious identity into political entitlement and instead promote peaceful participation and respect for equal citizenship.
The organisation also appealed to young Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of political violence.
“No politician's ambition is important enough for a young Nigerian to kill, be killed, destroy a community or inherit a criminal record on behalf of someone seeking public office,” it warned.
Thamani urged all stakeholders to ensure that the August 15 election is conducted peacefully, stressing that the ultimate test of democracy is not merely who wins an election, but whether citizens can participate without fear of violence, intimidation or discrimination.
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