OSUN State Governor Ademola Adeleke has released N500 million from the state’s Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund for people affected by recent election-related violence in the state. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the governor also inaugurated a committee to manage the fund disbursement.

Adeleke in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo on Monday, said the fund was set aside to verify and address claims by persons affected by the crises.

The committee, chaired by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, is expected to undertake a transparent and credible verification process.

The process is to establish genuine claims and ensure that relief reaches deserving victims.

The state government said the initiative underscored Adeleke’s commitment to supporting citizens who suffered losses, injuries, displacement or other forms of hardship as a result of election-related violence.

The membership of the committee includes Egbedun (Chairman), Eniola Omotoso (member), and Emmanuel Ologun (Representative of Civil Society Organisations/ member), Balkiss Akinleye, Moshood Suleiman (Ministry of Information), and Moses Faremi (Ministry of Justice)

Other members of the committee are Yemi Lawal, Sola Sonibare, Executive Secretary, Osun Investment Promotion Agency (Secretary), as well as nominees from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The committee is mandated to receive and verify petitions, claims and supporting evidence submitted by victims.

It is expected to determine the eligibility of claimants and recommend appropriate relief to verified victims in accordance with the guidelines approved by the state government.

The government directed all affected persons with genuine claims to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and relevant evidence necessary for the verification process.

The committee is expected to ensure that the N500 million relief fund is administered transparently, fairly and strictly for the benefit of verified victims.

The ICIR reported that over 70 election-related violence were recorded in the state before the poll.

This organisation also reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, who sought re-election, the election winner.

Adeleke secured 511,067 votes across the 30 LGAs, ahead of his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.

African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salam recorded 17,180 votes in the results collated.

Adeleke won in 19 of the 30 LGAs, while Oyebamiji won in 11.