Reported Simon Daniel Yusuph l journalist at wengglobal
A coalition of civil society organisations has urged residents of Osun State to participate actively in the August 15, 2026 governorship election and protect their votes against intimidation, violence and other attempts capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
The call comes as political activities intensify across the state ahead of the governorship poll, with political parties and candidates stepping up campaigns and supporters mobilising voters across Osun’s 30 local government areas.
The civil society groups also called on security agencies to remain professional, impartial and neutral throughout the electoral process, stressing that voters must be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights without fear or harassment.
The coalition’s position was reported by Tribune Online, which said the groups appealed to political actors, security agencies and other stakeholders to work towards a peaceful, free and credible election. The coalition also called on international partners to closely monitor developments in the state and deploy election observers. (Tribune Online)
The intervention is significant given the heightened political atmosphere surrounding the Osun election and concerns about electoral violence, voter intimidation, vote buying and the potential use of political influence to interfere with the voting process.
CSOs Demand Neutrality From Security Agencies
At the centre of the coalition’s appeal is the demand for neutrality from security agencies before, during and after the election.
The groups argued that security personnel must protect voters, electoral officials, political parties and election materials without taking sides in the political contest.
The call comes against the background of increasing political accusations among rival camps in Osun.
In July, the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, assured voters that intimidation and harassment would not be tolerated during the election. He urged eligible residents to obtain and safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the election without fear. (Punch Newspapers)
Similarly, APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye called on security agencies to remain vigilant and professional, warning against actions capable of causing panic or discouraging lawful participation. (Vanguard News)
These competing appeals reflect the growing concern among political stakeholders that the conduct of security personnel could significantly influence voter confidence and turnout.
For civil society groups, neutrality is particularly important because the presence of security personnel at polling units is intended to protect the electoral process rather than intimidate voters or influence political choices.
Election Violence Remains a Major Concern
The warning from the civil society coalition comes at a time when several stakeholders have identified potential risks surrounding the Osun election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed in June that the commission had identified approximately 385 potential flashpoints and 200 difficult terrains across the state as part of its election risk assessment.
The assessment covered all 30 local government areas and was shared with security agencies to assist with election planning. (Punch Newspapers)
The identification of potential flashpoints does not mean violence will necessarily occur at those locations. Rather, it provides security and electoral authorities with information that can be used to improve preparedness and deploy resources according to identified risks.
For civil society organisations, however, effective security preparation must be accompanied by restraint and respect for citizens’ rights.
An election cannot be considered credible merely because voting takes place. Voters must also be able to participate freely, political parties must be able to campaign without intimidation, and election officials must be able to perform their duties without interference.
Protecting Votes Does Not Mean Confrontation
The call for residents to protect their votes carries an important responsibility for voters, but civil society groups have emphasised peaceful and lawful participation.
Citizens can protect the integrity of their votes by turning out to vote, observing the voting and counting process where legally permitted, ensuring that their choices are accurately recorded and reporting suspected electoral offences through appropriate channels.
However, protecting votes should not be interpreted as encouraging voters to confront security personnel, political opponents or suspected electoral offenders physically.
The responsibility for maintaining public order belongs to authorised security agencies, while the Independent National Electoral Commission remains responsible for administering the election.
Civil society organisations and accredited observers also have a role in documenting the process, reporting irregularities and providing independent assessments.
This distinction is important because attempts by citizens to enforce electoral rules themselves could potentially escalate otherwise manageable disputes.
Vote Buying and Electoral Manipulation
Another major concern surrounding the Osun election is vote buying.
Nigeria’s recent electoral history has shown that electoral manipulation can take forms beyond physical violence. Vote buying, voter inducement, misinformation, intimidation and interference with electoral technology can all undermine the integrity of an election.
Yiaga Africa has raised concerns about alleged forms of electronic voter inducement ahead of the Osun election, including claims that some politicians may have obtained voters’ personal information before transfers were made to residents.
The organisation also called for greater transparency in the management and collation of election results, particularly concerning the relationship between physical result sheets, BVAS records and results uploaded to the IReV platform. (TheWill News)
These concerns underline why voter vigilance must extend beyond the moment a ballot is cast.
A credible electoral process requires transparency at every stage—from accreditation and voting to counting, collation and declaration.
Political Parties Must Restrain Supporters
The civil society coalition’s appeal also places responsibility on political parties and their supporters.
Political competition is an essential part of democracy, but competition becomes dangerous when political actors employ threats, inflammatory language or violence to discourage opponents from participating.
The Osun Development Association recently urged governorship candidates, party leaders and supporters to conduct themselves with restraint and dignity during the electioneering period.
The organisation specifically warned against inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation and actions capable of escalating political tensions. (Punch Newspapers)
Such appeals are increasingly important as the election approaches.
Political parties have a responsibility to educate their supporters about peaceful participation and to discourage retaliation when disagreements occur at polling units or collation centres.
Candidates and party leaders can also contribute to a peaceful election by accepting legitimate results and using established legal mechanisms to challenge outcomes where credible evidence of wrongdoing exists.
Osun’s Political Contest Intensifies
The August 15 election has attracted significant political attention, with Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking another term and Bola Oyebamiji representing the APC among the prominent contenders.
The political contest has already generated competing allegations and assurances concerning the credibility and security of the election.
Adeleke has repeatedly insisted that the people’s votes must determine the outcome and urged residents to protect their ballots. The governor recently declared that the election could not be rigged or stolen, arguing that voters would determine the result. (The Nation)
The APC candidate, meanwhile, has sought to reassure residents that intimidation would not be permitted and urged voters to participate peacefully. (Punch Newspapers)
The existence of similar appeals from rival political camps demonstrates that electoral security has become a central issue in the campaign.
However, assurances from politicians alone are not enough.
The credibility of the election will ultimately depend on the conduct of INEC, security agencies, political parties, election observers and voters.
Civil Society Calls for International Monitoring
The coalition has also appealed to international partners—including the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, European Union, United States and United Kingdom—to closely monitor developments in Osun and deploy observers ahead of the election. (Tribune Online)
International observation can provide an additional layer of scrutiny, although the primary responsibility for conducting and securing the election remains with Nigeria’s domestic institutions.
International observers can document developments, engage stakeholders and assess whether the process meets established democratic standards.
Their presence can also help strengthen public confidence, particularly where citizens are concerned about political interference or insecurity.
The appeal for international monitoring is therefore part of a broader demand for transparency and accountability.
Lessons From Previous Osun Elections
Osun has considerable experience with closely contested governorship elections, making the conduct of the 2026 poll particularly significant.
During the 2022 governorship election, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room reported that the election was generally peaceful and that voters in many locations remained at polling units to witness the counting and announcement of results.
The organisation specifically noted that voters in some polling units stayed behind to ensure that ballots were counted and results announced transparently. (Situation Room)
The Situation Room also highlighted vote buying as a continuing concern and called on the police to enforce relevant electoral laws.
The 2022 experience demonstrates that citizen participation can contribute positively to electoral transparency when carried out peacefully and within the law.
It also illustrates why voters’ engagement should not end immediately after casting their ballots.
Why Voter Confidence Matters
Voter confidence is essential to a credible election.
If residents believe they may be attacked, intimidated or prevented from voting, some may choose to stay away from polling units. Low participation can weaken the legitimacy of an electoral outcome and provide opportunities for manipulation.
The responsibility for building confidence therefore extends across the electoral system.
INEC must ensure that election materials and personnel are deployed effectively. Security agencies must protect voters without partisan interference. Political parties must restrain their supporters. Civil society organisations must provide credible monitoring, while the media must report developments accurately and independently.
Voters, meanwhile, must participate responsibly and resist inducements or threats designed to influence their choices.
Wengglobal Perspective
The civil society coalition’s warning should be understood as a call for vigilance, not confrontation.
For wengglobal, the fundamental issue is the protection of democratic participation and the right of Osun residents to choose their governor freely.
Protecting votes begins with ensuring that citizens can reach polling units safely and cast their ballots without intimidation. It continues with transparent counting and extends to credible collation and declaration of results.
The responsibility is collective, but each institution has a clearly defined role.
Political parties must compete fairly. Security agencies must remain professional and neutral. INEC must administer the election impartially and transparently. Civil society organisations must observe and document the process objectively. The media must provide factual and balanced reporting. Voters must participate peacefully and reject violence and vote buying.
Most importantly, political disagreements should be resolved through lawful institutions rather than confrontation.
As Osun approaches the August 15 governorship election, the priority should be to ensure that the outcome reflects the freely expressed will of the electorate.
A credible election will not be measured solely by who wins or loses. It will be judged by whether citizens were able to vote freely, whether their votes were counted accurately, whether the results were transparently collated and whether all participants had confidence that the process was conducted fairly.
The civil society appeal therefore comes at a critical moment. Protecting the ballot is ultimately about protecting citizens’ democratic choices—and that responsibility must be exercised peacefully, lawfully and collectively.
Sources
- Tribune Online — Osun poll: Civil society coalitions urge neutral security, call for peace. (Tribune Online)
- PUNCH Newspapers — Osun 2026: Oyebamiji warns against voter harassment. (Punch Newspapers)
- PUNCH Newspapers — Osun poll: APC chieftain warns against voter intimidation. (Punch Newspapers)
- PUNCH Newspapers — Osun poll: INEC flags 385 flashpoints, 200 difficult terrains. (Punch Newspapers)
- PUNCH Newspapers — Group urges peaceful Osun poll. (Punch Newspapers)
- The Guardian Nigeria — Osun poll: Adeleke campaign team says APC relying on political intimidation. (Guardian NG)
- The Nation — Osun guber election can’t be rigged or stolen — Adeleke. (The Nation)
- THEWILL — How Politicians are Allegedly Using Voters’ NINs, Bank Details to Influence Osun Election. (TheWill News)
- Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room — Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Interim Statement on the Osun State Governorship Election 2022. (Situation Room)
