By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Despite a peaceful turnout for Saturday’s Osun governorship election, technical delays left many voters enduring long waits in overcrowded polling units.
Slow BVAS verification proved especially challenging for elderly voters struggling with facial recognition.
In a post-election assessment, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room highlighted a strong operational start, with materials arriving on time and 87% of monitored polling units opening as scheduled.
However, Co-Convener Mma Odi emphasized that persistent BVAS glitches bottlenecked the accreditation process, creating widespread congestion and prolonged delays throughout the day.
“The report suggests that the challenges were particularly affecting facial recognition of elderly voters and the speed of accreditation, BVAS deployments resulted in long waiting times and congestion at polling units with large registered voters,” he said.
“Braille posters were available for deaf voters in most polling units observed, although congestion and prolonged waiting times remained concerns at locations with large numbers of registered voters.”
The observers also raised concern over reports of vote trading and voter inducement in several locations, saying the practice undermined the democratic value of the election and the principle of free choice.
“Voters reportedly displayed a sign indicating their preferred party, after which party agents recorded their names and vote numbers The issue of vote trading must be addressed because of its implications for the credibility of the election.”
On election administration, the Situation Room said the late inclusion of the SDP candidate following the Federal High Court judgment of July 22, 2026, disrupted the production and distribution of sensitive materials.
“The Osun State experience exposes a systemic risk. Judicial determinations affecting ballots can disrupt our production logistics, with late production reportedly delaying the arrival and distribution of sensitive materials.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the group called for a comprehensive post-election audit as a means of solution.
He said: “INEC should conduct a comprehensive post-election audit of recent Osun elections on key parts of the electoral process in order to strengthen its processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
The group said the review should also examine electronic transmission of results, security conduct, reported incidents, accessibility of polling units, complaints received and actions taken in response.
It urged INEC to make the exercise transparent by involving political parties, civil society organisations, election observers, the media and other stakeholders.
Also speaking, Agianpe Onyema, the Situation Room Secretariat Corodinator, said deeper institutional reforms were needed ahead of 2027.
“We continue to ask for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, and I think that will help ahead of 2027. When you ask about critical reforms that must happen, that’s one of them.”
She stressed the importance of electoral technology in rebuilding public confidence, particularly following concerns over declining participation after the 2023 general election.
Onyema further urged political parties and their supporters to move away from personality-driven campaigns and focus on policies and programmes that address the needs of citizens.
“The election was largely characterised by name-calling and rhetoric rather than issue-based campaigns. Parties need to focus on what they intend to do for the people ahead of 2027.”
The Situation Room also drew attention to the lives lost in violence before the election, urging authorities and political actors to remember the victims and support their families.
“We should mention them. We should celebrate them, and the government should start by celebrating them and reach out to their families so that they know that the breadwinners of their families did not die in vain,” it said.
It urged political parties, the Federal Government and citizens to treat the casualties as a serious national concern and ensure that similar violence does not recur in other states.
The group warned of possible increases in misinformation, disinformation and fake news around elections, urging stakeholders to verify information before sharing or amplifying it.
Author
Leave a comment