FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGOS, NIGERIA | July 25, 2026
As the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election enters its final 21 days,
the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity will convene a Citizens’ Town Hall on
the Osun Off-Cycle Governorship Election on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
The Network comprises the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, TAF
Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and
Society (CEMESO), and YIAGA Africa.
The town hall is a non-partisan platform for dialogue between citizens and key
electoral institutions towards strengthening public confidence and reinforcing
electoral integrity.
Participants will include election management officials, security agencies, traditional
and religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups,
organisations of persons with disabilities, media practitioners and citizens from
across Osun State.
Running from 4pm to 7pm at Adolak Event Hall, Osogbo, the Town Hall will feature
physical participation by invited guests only and will be broadcast live on ARISE
Television, NTA, AIT and the Osun State Broadcasting Service, with livestreaming
on the official YouTube channels of participating broadcasters and additional
coverage by radio stations, newspapers and digital media platforms.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs. Olutoyin Babalola,
and the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan will lead discussions on
election preparedness and election security. They will be joined by representatives of
women and persons with disabilities, while representatives of the Osun State Council
of Traditional Rulers and faith-based organisations will deliver goodwill messages.
Citizens participating both physically and online will have the opportunity to engage
directly with key electoral stakeholders, interrogate critical issues relating to
preparations for the governorship election and advance recommendations to ensure
the transparency and credibility of the process.
Chairman of the Planning Committee and Executive Director of the Centre for Media
and Society, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, said the Town Hall reflects the Network’s
commitment to strengthening electoral governance through inclusive citizen
engagement.
“Electoral integrity depends on informed citizen participation, institutional
transparency and sustained multi-stakeholder engagement. The Citizens’ Town Hall
provides a structured platform for constructive dialogue that strengthens public trust
and reinforces collective accountability in the conduct of the governorship election.”
The Co-Chair of the Planning Committee and Executive Director of the
International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the Network views citizen
engagement as critical to safeguarding electoral credibility.
“The quality of an election is determined not only by institutional preparedness but
also by the extent to which citizens are able to engage the process in an informed
and meaningful manner. This Town Hall provides an accountability interface
between citizens and electoral stakeholders, helping to strengthen transparency,
public confidence and the integrity of the electoral process.”
The Osun Citizens’ Town Hall builds on a series of citizen-focussed initiatives by the
Network across Nigeria. The initiative commenced with a national dialogue on the
Electoral Act 2026 in Abuja on March 1, 2026, before progressing to Ekiti State on
May 24, 2026 ahead of the Governorship Election of June 20, 2026, the first
conducted under the Electoral Act 2026. The Osun edition seeks to consolidate
these gains through inclusive dialogue, institutional accountability and informed
participation of citizens.
The Civil Society Network on Election Integrity is a coalition of leading Nigerian civil
society organisations working to promote credible, peaceful, inclusive and
transparent elections. Through citizen engagement, policy advocacy and multistakeholder collaboration, the Network advances electoral integrity, democratic
accountability and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral processes.
Signed
Olutoyin Ayoade
Communications Officer
International Press Centre
tayoade@ipcng.org
