Opposition Parties, Civil Society, Others Back Tinubu, Commend INEC Over Osun Poll

The Opposition Political Parties under the banner of United for Democracy, and  civil society organisations as well as other groups, has passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the just-concluded Osun State governorship election.

The group, led by its National Coordinator and Co-Convener, Obed Agu, said the outcome of the election, which was won by the Accord Party, demonstrated that the electoral process could provide a level playing field for political parties when properly managed.

Agu, who is also the National Organising Secretary of the Action Peoples Party (APP), led members of the coalition on a solidarity visit to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

The delegation commended the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, for his leadership of the commission and what it described as the beginning of a new era of electoral transparency.

The group was received by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, who expressed appreciation for the visit.

Haruna said the commission was impressed by the solidarity shown by the coalition of political parties, civil society organisations and other groups, assuring that INEC would continue to provide an enabling environment for all political parties to campaign, canvass for votes and seek the mandate of the electorate.

He said the commission would improve on the lessons from the Osun election ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We will improve on the Osun election for the 2027 poll. Like we have been saying, every political party will be given equal opportunity to canvass for votes and ensure that their votes count,” he said.

In his remarks, Agu said the coalition believed that opposition political parties should not oppose the government merely for the sake of opposition, but should also have the courage to acknowledge positive actions when they occur.

He said responsible opposition required political parties to criticise government when it did wrong and commend it when it did right.

Agu said, “Opposition political parties can criticise government when government does wrong. But opposition parties must also have the courage to commend government when government does right.

“That is what responsible opposition means. We will not praise anyone because of political affiliation. And we will not condemn anyone simply because they belong to another political party.
“When they do bad, we will speak. When they do good, we will speak. Today, we speak.”

He commended President Tinubu for creating an enabling environment for the Osun governorship election.

Agu also commended Amupitan for his leadership of INEC and passed a vote of confidence on the electoral commission chairman.

The coalition comprises the Opposition Political Parties United for Democracy, national ethnic groups, the Area Consultative Youth Movement, Middle Belt Youth Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Movement, South-South Youth Leaders Consultative Forum, Oduduwa Youth Assembly and the African Centre for Justice and Human Rights, among others.

The group said its position was not based on political affiliation but on the need to encourage actions capable of strengthening Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes.