Committee urges Osun election victims to submit relief claims
Victims of violence linked to the August 15 Osun State governorship election have been urged to submit their claims to the Election Violence Relief Committee for verification and possible assistance.
The committee’s chairman and Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, made the appeal on Thursday during the committee’s inaugural meeting in the state.
Abimbola Joseph
Victims of violence linked to the August 15 Osun State governorship election have been urged to submit their claims to the Election Violence Relief Committee for verification and possible assistance.
The committee’s chairman and Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, made the appeal on Thursday during the committee’s inaugural meeting in the state.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, Egbedun said the committee was established to hear victims’ complaints, verify genuine claims and ensure that appropriate relief reached those who suffered losses during the election-related violence.
He assured victims and their families that the state government remained committed to supporting those affected.
Egbedun described the committee’s assignment as both humanitarian and sensitive, assuring the public that its proceedings would be conducted fairly, transparently and without prejudice.
He said every submission would be treated seriously, with decisions based on facts, fairness and compassion.
The committee also decided for victims who sustained injuries during the election period and remain in hospital to present their cases, preferably through relatives or authorised representatives.
Egbedun said that once such cases were brought before the committee, it would liaise with the hospitals concerned to ensure that the victims received the necessary medical attention.
He further assured injured victims, their families and the hospitals treating them that the government would take responsibility for the approved cost of their treatment.
The committee chairman also acknowledged the intervention of the Adeleke Dynasty through the Springtime Development Foundation, which has pledged scholarships for children who lost their parents or benefactors during the election violence.
Egbedun described the scholarship initiative as a demonstration of compassion and commitment to the welfare of families affected by the violence.
He said supporting the education of children who lost their parents was one way of preserving the memory of the deceased while giving the affected children an opportunity to build better futures.
The speaker assured the foundation of the committee’s support in ensuring that the scholarships reached the intended beneficiaries transparently and effectively.
He reiterated that genuine victims would not be overlooked and that the committee would maintain a credible and transparent process in handling claims.
The development comes against the backdrop of the governorship election in which Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner by the State Returning Officer, Prof Joshua Ogunwole.
Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
