Osun Election Day Report: Strong Voter Turnout, Orderly, Peaceful Polls

A Preliminary Statement Issued by the European Union – Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (Election Observation Hub) on the Osun Governorship Election

INTRODUCTION

The Osun State off-cycle Governorship Election is taking place today, Saturday, 15^th 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 the results validation and verification process. This statement covers our observations on the adequacy of personnel 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 pre-election statement issued on 27^th July and 14^th 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 Voter 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 non-sensitive 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 8.00 am. Furthermore, poll officials arrived at 75 (10.3%) observed polling units between 8.00 and 8.30 am and in 42 (5.7%) PUs between 8.30 and 11.00 am. One polling unit was yet to open as of 11.00 am 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 women and persons with disabilities. For example, the turnout of women is at about 59% in the observed polling units, and more than 70% of 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 of 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

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.

Deploy RATECH and backup BVAS immediately to where the device failed to capture the biometrics of voters.

At the end of polling, paste the Form EC60E at each polling unit and immediately upload the EC8A to the IReV.

Monitor priority voting and assistive devices for elderly, pregnant and PWD voters to ensure compliance and availability

Monitor ISANS for rapid response to any reported case arson, kidnapping or hijacking of materials/personnel.

Security Agencies

Maintain professionalism and remain neutral through non-partisan conduct

Keep a visible but restrained presence at PUs and collation centres and avoid any perception of heavy-handedness.

Monitor the election in areas rated as critical risk, especially during the counting and collation process to avoid disruptions

Support the EFCC/ICPC plain-clothes officers working PUs to catch vote-trading

Escort election personnel and materials from the PU to the various levels of collation.

Keep ICCES collaboration, coordination and synergy live throughout the day to respond fast, proportionately and transparently to any incident.

Political Parties and Candidates

Party agents at PUs should focused on lawful observation, not intimidation and vote trading.

Abstain from vote buying and discourage polling agents and supporters from vote-trading at the polling units.

Commit to challenging any grievance through the tribunal/courts rather than protest or “self-help.”

Media

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.

Stick to real-time fact-checking to counter any dis/misinformation as the election moves to the critical stages of vote counting and collation

Promptly report any attack or denial of access using the dedicated lines and apps.

Voters

Vote independently; decline any inducement and report vote-buying to INEC staff, security, or an accredited observer on the spot rather than staying silent.

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 EU-SDGN 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 30^th 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 15^thAugust 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

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