INTRODUCTION
The Osun State off-cycle Governorship Election is taking place today, Saturday, 15th August
2026. The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH), comprising the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO),
the International Press Centre (IPC), the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre (TKC) and Yiaga Africa deployed 823 accredited observers to polling units across the 30 LGAs in the State to monitor the process. This preliminary statement presents the Hub’s assessment of the process as observed as at 12pm today covering the opening of polls, accreditation, voting and the election security environment.
The EU-SDGN EOH is using a triangulated election observation methodology combining
systematic, statistical and technology-driven tools to observe, assess and report on specific
thematic areas of the election. These includes election integrity, election security, disability
inclusion, gender participation, peacebuilding, misinformation tracking, media access/journalists’ safety and results validation and verification process. This
statement covers our observation on the adequacy of personnels and materials, opening of
polls, functionality and performance of the BVAS for accreditation, voter turnout, participation of women, PwDs and other vulnerable groups, security situation, malpractices
and irregularities with particular focus on vote-buying and voter intimidation.
This preliminary statement is a follow up to the pre-election assessment report and the preelection statement issued on 27th July and 14th August 2026 respectively, and it is based on reports received from our stationary and roving observers across the State. The
statement does not constitute a final assessment of the election as it will be followed by a
Post-Election Report on the conclusion of voting, collation and declaration of results.
OPENING OF POLLS, CONDITION OF ELECTION MATERIALS AND ACCREDITATION OF VOTERS
Voting in the Osun State off-cycle governorship election is being conducted in 3,763 polling
units across the State and the election is contested by 15 candidates sponsored by 15 political parties. Of the total number of 2,339,233 registered voters for the election, 1,906,390 (81.50%) collected their Permanent Voters Cards and are eligible to vote.
The EU-SDGN EOH notes that out of the 823 polling units where our observers were
deployed, polling officials with complete complement of both sensitive and nonsensitive materials were present in 726 polling units. The officials with full complement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, BVAS, voting cubicles, registers of voters, official stamps and ink pads were present in 608 (83.7%) between 7.30 and 8.00am. Furthermore, poll officials arrived at 75 (10.3%) observed polling units between 8.00 and 8.30am and in 42 (5.7%) PUs between 8.30 and 11.00am. One polling unit was yet to open as of 11.00am due to non- arrival of election personnel and materials.
On the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, observers report 58 (7.9%)
devices malfunctioned in the 726 polling units observed. However, 41 (70.7%) of the 58
devices were rectified and accreditation resumed in the affected polling units.
The Hub observers reported that voter turnout was impressive and voters were mostly
peaceful and orderly with the deployment of effective crowd control measures by election
officials and security personnel.
ELECTION SECURITY
The Hub’s observers reported the deployment of an average of three security personnel in
the observed polling units. Although most of the security personnel exhibited professional
conduct over the course of voting, there were some reported cases of voter intimidation by
security agents at PU 29-10-10-005 at Igbon DC. School in Ejigbo and PU 29-30-06-015 at
open space, opposite No 22, Oke Ola Street, Okanla Area, Osogbo.
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN, PWDS AND VULNERABLE GROUPS
Reports received from our observers indicate that the voting process was largely
inclusive with noticeable participation of for women and persons with disabilities. For
example, the turnout of women is at about 59% in the observed polling units and more than 70% PwDs turned up to vote in the 12 designated PwD polling units observed. Furthermore, women constituted 36% of polling officials and played significant roles as polling agents.
ELECTORAL OFFENCES AND IRREGULARITIES
As at 12 noon, the Hub’s observers have recorded 38 security incidents with 25 reported cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials and 9 cases of voter intimidation by security personnel. Furthermore, of the 726 polling units observed, there were reported 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities including vote trading (103), multiple voting (12), inducement of polling and security officials (28), campaigning at PUs (38), voter impersonation (14), misconduct by election officials (7), obstruction of voters (31) and exposure of ballot papers (85). It is important to note that these cases do not correspond to 323 individual polling units, as multiple cases were recorded within the same polling unit.
ACCESS FOR OBSERVERS AND MEDIA
The election environment has been generally conducive for journalists and observers, with no major incident as at the time of this report relating to impeded access to polling units. The hub’s fact checkers were able to detect and fact-check about 11 false claims relating to
alleged payment of INEC officials, arrests by the police, underage voting, among others, as at the time of this report. The outcomes were all amplified, but other claims relating to shooting and disruption of voting are being fact-checked.
RECOMMENDATIONS
INEC
1. Get election personnel and materials to polling units that are yet to open or
reschedule the election where polling is yet to commence by 12 pm.
2. Deploy RATECH and backup BVAS immediately to where the device failed to capture
the biometrics of voters.
3. At the end of polling paste the Form EC60E at each polling unit
and immediately upload the EC8A to the IReV.
4. Monitor priority voting and assistive devices for elderly, pregnant and PWD voters to
ensure compliance and availability
5. Monitor ISANS for rapid response to any reported case arson, kidnapping or hijacking
of materials/personnel.
Security Agencies
1. Maintain professionalism and remain neutral through non-partisan conduct
2. Keep a visible but restrained presence at PUs and collation centres and avoid
any perception of heavy-handedness.
3. Monitor the election in areas rated as critical risk, especially during the counting and
collation process to avoid disruptions
4. Support the EFCC/ICPC plain-clothes officers working PUs to catch vote-trading
5. Escort election personnel and materials from the PU to the various levels of collation.
6. Keep ICCES collaboration, coordination and synergy live throughout the day to
respond fast, proportionately and transparently to any incident.
Political Parties and Candidates
1. Party agents at PUs should focused on lawful observation, not intimidation and vote
trading.
2. Abstain from vote buying and discourage polling agents and supporters from votetrading at the polling units.
3. Commit to challenging any grievance through the tribunal/courts rather than protest
or “self-help.”
Media
1. Refrain from announcing results until INEC’s official declaration at the appropriate
polling and collation levels — there should be no reporting of unofficial or projected
figures.
2. Stick to real-time fact-checking to counter any dis/misinformation as the election
moves to the critical stages of vote counting and collation
3. Promptly report any attack or denial of access using the dedicated lines and apps.
Voters
1. Vote independently; decline any inducement and report vote-buying to INEC staff,
security, or an accredited observer on the spot rather than staying silent.
2. If a dispute or threat arises at your PU, report it to security or observers rather than
escalating it yourself.
NEXT STEPS
The Hub’s observers remain deployed at polling units and thereafter at the collation centres
and will continue to monitor the counting, collation and transmission of results through to
declaration at Registration Area, Local Government and State Collation Centre levels. The EUSDGN EOH will issue a Post-Election Report following the declaration of the result addressing the overall conduct, credibility and outcome of the election.
The Hub reiterates its call on all political parties and candidates to await the official outcome of the election and to pursue any grievances exclusively through lawful and judicial channels, in keeping with the Peace Accord signed on 30th July 2026, and calls on the people of Osun State to remain calm and patient as the process moves toward conclusion.
CONCLUSION
The Osun State Governorship Election of 15th August 2026 is a critical test of the new electoral legal framework and a bellwether for the 2027 General Election. The EU-SDGN EOH thanks INEC, security agencies, political parties, the media and above all, the voters of Osun State for their engagement with the process today and reaffirms its commitment to an accurate, evidence-based and impartial account of the election as it concludes.
Signed:
Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO)
International Press Centre (IPC)
Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF)
TAF Africa
The Kukah Centre (TKC)
Yiaga Africa
