Author: Gist Correspondent

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub has expressed concern over vote buying, political violence, insecurity and weaknesses in the electronic transmission of election results ahead of Saturday's Osun State governorship election.

Speaking at a pre-election briefing in Osogbo on Friday, the observation mission said the identified challenges could undermine the credibility of the poll if not effectively addressed.

The Hub, made up of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), International Press Centre (IPC), National Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa, said it has deployed 843 observers across the state's 30 local government areas.

According to the observers, 15 candidates will contest the election across 3,763 polling units located in 332 registration areas, with 2,339,233 registered voters expected to participate.

The group noted that over 1.9 million eligible voters, representing 81.5 per cent of registered voters, had collected their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the exercise.

It described the election as an important test of Nigeria's Electoral Act 2026, INEC's operational readiness and the capacity of security agencies to guarantee a peaceful and credible process ahead of the 2027 general election.

The observers commended INEC for preparing BVAS devices, distributing non-sensitive materials and reprinting ballot papers following the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party candidate, Francis Ajala, in line with a Federal High Court judgment.

They also acknowledged the recruitment of about 17,500 ad hoc personnel and the activation of registration area centres for the deployment of election officials and materials.

Despite the preparations, the Hub expressed concern over technical glitches recorded during INEC's mock accreditation exercise, particularly instances where some BVAS machines failed to recognise voters' biometrics.

It urged the electoral commission to maintain adequate backup systems to prevent disruptions on election day, even though INEC has assured that the identified issues have been resolved.

The mission also questioned aspects of the electronic transmission of results, saying there was inadequate public information on the validation process before polling unit results become visible on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

It noted that the absence of clear explanations on the process could raise questions about transparency, especially where differences emerge between physical result sheets and electronically transmitted results.

The observers further urged INEC to publish ward and local government collation results on the IReV portal to enhance transparency and allow independent verification of election outcomes.

On security, the Hub identified Osogbo and Irewole as critical-risk areas, while Boripe, Obokun, Ilesa West, Ife Central, Ife North, Iwo, Ede North, Ifedayo, Ilesa East, Isokan and Irepodun were listed among other high-risk local government areas.

It attributed the security concerns to political violence, criminal activities, disputes over local government administration and the spread of misinformation.

The observers noted that about 30,000 security personnel drawn from the police, military, DSS, NSCDC and other agencies are expected to provide security during the election, but called for professionalism and respect for human rights.

The mission described vote buying and voter inducement as the biggest threat to the integrity of the election and welcomed plans by INEC, the EFCC and the ICPC to deploy undercover officers to monitor and tackle the practice.

It also warned against the spread of fake news and inflammatory messages on social media platforms capable of inciting violence before, during and after the poll.

The Hub urged political parties and their supporters to respect the Peace Accord signed on July 30, accept the outcome of the election peacefully and seek legal redress where necessary.

It also encouraged voters to participate peacefully, reject inducements, report electoral offences and conduct themselves responsibly throughout the election.

The observation mission said it would release a preliminary assessment after Saturday's governorship election, followed by a comprehensive post-election report.