Despite emerging signs of violence in electioneering campaigns, fake news and hate speeches, there is a high expectation of a peaceful election by electorates on the Ondo governorship elections, a report released by CLEEN Foundation has shown.

According to the Election Security Threats Assessment (ESTA) report made available on Friday by the Head of Public Safety & Security Department, CLEEN Foundation, Ms Teresa Okoro, 86.4 percent of the respondents expect peaceful polls, while Only 4.3 percent of respondents thought otherwise.

“The possibility of a peaceful governorship election in the state is very high, especially if all the key actors discharge their responsibilities professionally and competently,” the report read.

The Foundation however, listed some election risk factors that could trigger violence, if not mitigated, to include: exclusion and discrimination against the youth; partiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary and security agents; distribution, location and adequacy of polling units and voting points, political interference in the work of INEC, among several others.

CLEEN Foundation also revealed three Local Government Areas in the state that may likely to be hot spots for violence. They include Akoko North East, Akure South and Idanre.

The Foundation therefore urged prompt responses to the early warning signs, collaboration and continuous stakeholders engagement, including INEC, political parties, security agencies, mass media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to deliver a peaceful and credible election.

CLEEN also called for effective regulation of the mass media to ensure compliance with established rules and standards; and punishment for defaulters.

The Foundation further called for effective regulation of political finance to reduce undue influence of money and special engagement with young people by stakeholders is critical.