Osun Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Express Concern Over Redeployment of REC Agboke, Public Trust
…. Reiterates Support for INEC Activities in the State…..
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations working on Civic Education (CCE), Osun State, has expressed deep concern over the recent redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, from Osun State to Ondo State.
This is as the CSOs also expressed its reaction over the public trust of the the people on INEC over the redeployment, and the CSOs also reiterated its support of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC activities, and collaborations with relevant stakeholders to promote free, fair and credible elections in the state.
This was disclosed in a release signed by the National Chairman of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations working on Civic Education in Osun state, Ambassador Dr Stephen Aremu Akinleye, who stated that as a coalition of civil society actors actively engaged in promoting civic education, electoral accountability, and citizen participation, we have had several engagements and dialogues with the REC under his leadership.
According to him, “throughout these interactions, Dr Mutiu Agboke consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, openness, and commitment to fairness.
“Dr. Agboke’s approach to stakeholder engagement has been inclusive and constructive. He provided platforms for civil society organizations, political parties, and other stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to conversations around electoral processes.”
These engagements were geared towards ensuring credible, transparent, and peaceful elections in Osun State.
It is therefore worrisome that at a time when citizens and stakeholders were beginning to build renewed confidence in the electoral system owing to deliberate and strategic engagements led by the REC, such a sudden redeployment has occurred.
While we acknowledge that redeployment is within the administrative prerogative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), we emphasize that the timing and context of this decision may have unintended consequences on public trust, especially as Osun State prepares for a critical electoral process.
We are particularly worried that this development may:
– Undermine the growing trust between citizens and the electoral body
– Create uncertainty among stakeholders, and
– Potentially contribute to voter apathy if not properly addressed.
As civil society organizations committed to strengthening democracy, we believe that consistency, transparency, and stakeholder confidence are essential pillars of credible elections.
We therefore respectfully call on the leadership of INEC to:
– Provide clarity on the rationale for this redeployment
– Ensure that any replacement upholds the same standards of fairness, transparency, and stakeholder engagement, and
– Take deliberate steps to sustain public confidence in the electoral process in Osun State.
As a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, we caution that actions perceived to be abrupt or insufficiently communicated, particularly in pre-election periods, can erode public confidence and weaken citizen participation in the democratic process.
We reaffirm our dedication to democratic values and urge all actors to prioritize the integrity of the electoral process above all else.