Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has spoken out against the escalating violence hindering the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Osun State. In a statement released on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Segun-Progress, the lawmaker described the attacks as a grave threat to democracy and the fundamental civic rights of the populace.
Fadahunsi’s comments follow recent reports of assaults on citizens and journalists at registration centers in Ilesa and Ikirun. The senator unequivocally condemned the alleged sponsorship of political thuggery, calling the actions “barbaric, needless, and primitive.” He emphasized that such behavior, if left unaddressed, could compromise the integrity of the entire voter registration process.
“It is totally uncalled for. Instead of encouraging citizens to come out and register, some individuals are instigating hoodlums to inflict violence on innocent residents. Such acts must be arrested and nipped in the bud,” Fadahunsi stated.
He demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into the incidents and urged all relevant stakeholders to publicly condemn those responsible. The senator also appealed directly to the youth, particularly in Ijesaland, to resist being used as political pawns.
Concluding his statement, Fadahunsi called on security agencies to bolster their efforts to protect CVR centers and citizens. He stressed that only decisive action against the perpetrators and their sponsors can ensure a credible registration exercise and prevent the state from descending into chaos.
