The Osun State House of Assembly has called for a free, fair, and credible governorship election scheduled for August 15 in the state.

The call followed the redeployment of Mutiu Agboke, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, to Ondo State.

Addressing a news conference on Thursday in Osogbo, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, said whoever is deployed to oversee the election must act in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Mr Egbedun said the REC’s sudden redeployment from the state raises suspicion, as the Ekiti governorship election ahead of Osun has not witnessed a similar reshuffle of electoral officials.

He, however, expressed confidence in the people of the state, describing them as politically conscious, vigilant, and determined to ensure that their votes count and reflect their true choice.

“Let it be made absolutely clear that whoever is deployed to conduct the election in the state must do so in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“The election must be free, fair, and credible. Anything short of this will be firmly resisted by the people of Osun,” he said.

Mr Egbedun also called the attention of the international community, development partners, and observers of democratic governance to monitor developments in the state as they unfold.

“As representatives of the people of Osun State, all we ask for—and insist on—is a free, fair, and credible election.

“Let it be known that the people of the state are politically aware, vigilant, and deeply committed to democratic values.

“The people of this state will not accept any action, from any quarter, that undermines the credibility of the electoral process,” he added.

Mr Agboke announced his redeployment to Ondo State on Wednesday night and thanked the media for their support during his tenure.

(NAN)