The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has stepped up preparations towards the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, calling for more robust voter education, inclusiveness and renewed efforts to tackle voter apathy across the state.
The charge was given by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin O. Babalola in a post on its X handle on Monday during the Joint Implementation Meeting of the Voter Education & Publicity and Gender & Inclusivity departments which was held on Monday in Osogbo.
Babalola emphasized the importance of continuous civic engagement, stating, “Election is a process, not an event.”
Failure to continue voter education efforts could weaken participation in the democratic process, she warned.
She said that while there have been improvements in electoral administration, voter apathy remains a major concern, driven by misinformation, distrust in the system, political disengagement and lack of adequate access to reliable electoral information.
“Citizens need to know not just when elections will happen, but why it matters that they are involved,” she said.
“Voter education should not be just announcements, but active engagement at the grassroots,” she said.
Babalola urged Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to step up community outreach, visiting markets, motor parks, schools and religious centres, and to work closely with traditional and religious leaders in order to deepen voter consciousness.
The problem of inclusivity is fundamental to democratic participation, she said. She said that inclusivity is not only a policy objective but a democratic imperative, urging officials to ensure that women, youths, elderly persons and Persons with Disabilities are not excluded from electoral processes.
She also directed officials to identify communities with historically low voter turnout and create targeted engagement strategies to increase participation.
Reiterating INEC’s commitment, Babalola said, “Every eligible voter must know why voting matters, how to vote correctly, where to vote and when to vote.” The Commission, she said, was still focused on building trust and encouraging wider participation ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
Meanwhile, a pro-democracy and non-partisan socio-political organisation, the Igbo Agenda Dialogue, has warned that any attempt to tamper with the 2027 general elections could plunge Nigeria into a crisis that threatens the country’s stability and democratic future.
The warning was contained in a statement released on Monday entitled “Message to all the presidential candidates for the 2027 presidential election” co-signed by its convener and National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, and Executive Secretary, Jonathan Elendu.
The organisation congratulated the presidential candidates of various political parties in a statement and called on politicians, electoral officials and security agencies to behave responsibly before, during and after the elections.
The group said the 2027 presidential election is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive contests in Nigeria’s democratic history and urged all stakeholders to focus on issues rather than divisive rhetorics.
The statement appealed to politicians and their supporters to concentrate on issues and to refrain from acerbic and inflammatory rhetoric.
The IAD said the presidential candidates’ acceptance speeches have reflected a broad consensus on key areas that require urgent attention such as national development, security and unity.
But the group expressed concern about the socio-economic and security challenges the country was facing and warned that the irresponsible conduct of political actors could further heighten tensions.
“Nigeria is now passing through a lot of flash points and the citizenry is restive at this time as a result of many existential challenges. “Politicians, electoral umpire and security agencies must not aggravate the already incendiary and potentially explosive polity by their action and utterances,” the statement added.
The organisation also imposed a heavy burden on the Independent National Electoral Commission, calling on the electoral body to deliver a credible process that would inspire public confidence.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has the onerous task of conducting credible, transparent, free and fair elections to Nigerians. Nigerians deserve nothing less. “The world is watching,” it said.
The IAD also stressed that security agencies must be professional and impartial throughout the electoral process, warning against any compromise that could undermine the integrity of the elections.
The group said it has launched a nationwide voter mobilisation campaign as part of its civic responsibility to urge eligible Nigerians, particularly those who have not collected their voter cards, to participate in the electoral process.
The statement urged citizens to use the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise, to come out en masse to cast their votes for their preferred candidates and political parties in the 2027 elections.
“IAD, a non-partisan socio-political and pro-democracy organization, has already commenced nationwide advocacy to call on our people who are eligible to take advantage of the ongoing last phase of the continuous voters registration exercise by INEC to register and to come out in mass in January and February 2027 to vote massively for candidates and political parties of their choice,” the statement added.
The group also urged other civil society organisations and community groups across the country to support voter education and participation initiatives.
The IAD warned that any attempt to undermine the will of the electorate could have dire consequences for peace and stability in the country.
The statement warned that “any attempt to manipulate the electoral process or to shortchange the electorate during and after the elections may result in an uncontrollable anarchy that may threaten the very foundation of our country.”
