The Electoral Hub has raised concerns over the security situation ahead of the Osun State governorship election, citing 73 election-related violent incidents that have resulted in 29 deaths, and urged stakeholders to take urgent measures to protect voters and ensure a peaceful poll.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of The Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, the incidents have raised concerns ahead of Saturday’s August 15, 2026 governorship election, with Osogbo identified as particularly affected and several other Local Government Areas requiring heightened security attention.
The Electoral Hub said the reported violence should not discourage citizens from participating in the democratic process, but should instead compel political actors, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), community leaders and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to eliminate violence, intimidation and fear from the electoral process.
The organisation stressed that voters must be able to leave their homes, reach their polling units, cast their ballots and return safely.
“No political ambition is worth a single life, and no electoral victory is worth silencing the people through fear,” it said.
The Electoral Hub consequently called for strengthened preventive security measures, effective responses to threats and strict accountability for perpetrators of electoral violence.
It urged security agencies to remain neutral, professional and non-partisan while protecting voters, electoral officials, observers, journalists and other stakeholders from intimidation, violence and electoral crimes.
The organisation also called on political parties and candidates to reject political violence and the use of thugs to intimidate voters, stressing that citizens must be able to participate in the election without fear.
According to the statement signed by Princess Hamman-Obels, the Electoral Hub also expressed concern over the persistent underrepresentation of women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in elective and decision-making positions.
It noted that only five women appeared among the 15 governorship and 15 deputy governorship candidates on INEC’s final list for the election, describing the situation as an indication of continuing barriers to women’s political representation.
The organisation called for stronger affirmative-action measures, inclusive political party structures, greater support for women candidates and increased opportunities for women, youths and PWDs to participate as voters, candidates, party leaders, election officials, observers and decision-makers.
On the conduct of the election, the Electoral Hub urged INEC to ensure the timely deployment of personnel and electoral materials, effective functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and strict adherence to established procedures for accreditation, voting, counting and result collation.
It also called for compliance with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2026, INEC Regulations and Guidelines, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, Disability Act 2018 and other applicable laws.
The organisation urged political parties and candidates to accept credible results or seek redress through lawful channels, warning that electoral disagreements must not become a justification for violence or threats to public safety.
The Electoral Hub further encouraged voters to participate peacefully, reject vote buying and inducement, verify their polling information and report electoral violations through appropriate channels.
It called on political parties, candidates, INEC, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders and citizens to work together to make the August 15 election a peaceful celebration of democracy.
“Choose peace over violence. Choose integrity over manipulation. Choose democracy over division. The future of Osun belongs to all its people,” the organisation said.
