The civil society group Yiaga Africa has voiced worries that the current atmosphere of tension preceding Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State might prevent citizens from voting. During a press conference in Osogbo, Dr. Asmau Maikudi, who leads the group’s election observation mission, joined Executive Director Samson Itodo in highlighting these risks.
Dr. Maikudi emphasized that while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made progress in its preparations—such as training staff and readying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)—the true measure of success will be the commission’s performance on election day. She noted that issues with Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection in Odo-Otin and Ife Central could lead to voter disenfranchisement, especially given that many citizens lack the digital access required to download electronic versions of their cards.
The organization also pointed to a concerning rise in political violence and inflammatory rhetoric. Dr. Maikudi cited specific attacks on PVC centers and disputes over public spaces as signs of instability. She called for impartial security measures to protect personnel and voters alike, urging law enforcement to prosecute all offenders regardless of their political ties.
Furthermore, Yiaga Africa observed instances of potential voter inducement, where money and goods were distributed under the guise of charitable acts. Dr. Maikudi concluded that without addressing these security, technical, and integrity concerns, the overall legitimacy of the electoral process could be severely damaged, ultimately discouraging residents from casting their ballots.
