Thugs reportedly disrupted voting at the polling unit of Najeem Salaam, governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in ward 4, unit 13, Ejigbo LGA, during Saturday’s election in Osun state.
According to NAN, Salaam condemned the incident, describing it as a threat to his safety and the integrity of the electoral process.
The ADC candidate said the disruption was deliberate and targeted at him, warning that such acts could disenfranchise voters and erode confidence in democratic elections.
“How could we differentiate this from military rule when people’s votes don’t count?” he asked.
Salaam faulted the security personnel deployed to the polling unit, alleging that they failed to respond swiftly when the disturbance broke out.
The ADC governorship candidate called for an investigation into the incident, urging security agencies to ensure that their personnel remain impartial and responsive throughout the election.
Salaam said that the failure of security agencies to contain electoral violence could deepen public frustration and encourage citizens to resort to self-help.
The former speaker of the Osun state house of assembly said such a situation could heighten tensions in communities and create an environment in which electoral violence becomes difficult to control.
“This is not an election; it is a selection,” he said.
Salaam urged the government and security agencies to take immediate steps to protect the electorate and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, adding that political parties and their supporters must also respect voters’ rights, shun violence and allow citizens to freely determine who governs them.
