Osun decides: US envoy speaks ahead of Thursday’s re-run election

The Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. David Young, on Wednesday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the decision to conduct re-run election in Osun, saying it would enhance democracy.

INEC will on Thursday conduct supplementary election in four local governments.

Young made the remarks at an interactive session with newsmen after he inaugurated Magvoile Vocational Centre in Kaduna.

The Deputy Chief stated that the re-run would ensure that voters at the remaining seven polling units who were not able to vote on Saturday cast their votes.

“Certainly, the decision of INEC to go ahead and have a re-run in seven polling unit is one that we respect given the fact that there was only 355 vote margin between the two candidates.

“Certainly, this is a decision that make sense; we want to say that its important for democracy that every person vote is secret and counted as we go forward with the vote tomorrow,” he stressed.

Young, who commended the people of Osun State over last Saturday’s peaceful election, urged them to ensure same in the upcoming re-run.

He also urged contestants to accept the outcome of the election without rancour, in accordance with democratic norms.

“We want to urge the victor to be magnanimous in victory and whoever loses to be gracious in defeat, this is part of democracy”, he said.