Reports emerging from the Ekiti governorship election have raised serious concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s readiness ahead of the 15 August 2026 governorship poll in Osun State.
Whatever shortcomings were recorded in Ekiti must not recur in Osun. The two states are distinct, and Osun voters will not accept avoidable irregularities.
BVAS malfunctions, delayed accreditation, logistical lapses, and other complaints from parts of Ekiti have deepened public distrust in the electoral process. After months of preparation and substantial public funds allocated to INEC, Nigerians should not still witness technical failures on election day.
Osun is not Ekiti, and INEC must understand this. The commission must not import any form of electoral shenanigans into Osun. The people are prepared to vote and expect their votes to count. Any attempt to frustrate voters through malfunctioning devices, late deployment, or administrative lapses will be resisted within the law.
I urge INEC to conduct a comprehensive review of the Ekiti election and close every loophole before the Osun poll. Viral reports, including video evidence of a teenager alleging that an APC agent promised him money after voting, and claims of underage voter mobilisation, demand urgent investigation. Allegations that undermine public confidence must never be ignored.
It was also alleged that individuals were brought into Ekiti and issued voter cards belonging to others, with reports of inducement with ₦20,000 per vote. This raises grave questions about the integrity of the process.
What then is the role of BVAS in such cases? Why did the system fail to detect or prevent these discrepancies? How did the fingerprints of ineligible or allegedly imported voters correspond with assigned voter cards?
These are the issues that must never be tolerated in Osun State.
The integrity of any election depends on public trust. Once voters begin to suspect that technical failures and irregularities are not accidental, confidence in the process begins to erode. That is why INEC must be transparent and proactive in addressing all concerns arising from Ekiti.
Also, civil society groups, political actors and concerned citizens should closely monitor the conduct of the Osun election. Any polling unit where electoral blunders are observed will immediately attract public attention and lawful scrutiny.
With less than two months to the Osun governorship election, INEC should test all BVAS devices, adequately train ad hoc staff, ensure timely deployment of personnel and provide backup equipment where necessary.
The message is simple: learn from Ekiti and get Osun right. The people are ready to participate in the democratic process. INEC must ensure that technology works, officials arrive on time and every lawful vote counts. Anything short of that will be unacceptable.
Signed:
Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and Judicial Reform
