Isa Sanusi, the Nigeria Country Director for Amnesty International, anticipates significant voter apathy during the upcoming Osun State gubernatorial election scheduled for August 15, 2026. During an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’, Sanusi stated that many citizens will likely shun polling stations to prioritize their safety.
This concern stems from inflammatory rhetoric by Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East in the National Assembly. A video surfaced showing the lawmaker instructing his followers to kill members of the Accord Party. Sanusi highlighted that this statement, alongside 73 documented incidents occurring between May and June, creates a climate of fear that discourages civic participation.
Sanusi emphasized that potential voters are not staying home out of disinterest, but because they fear violence associated with supporting opposing political parties. He noted that the pattern of declining voter turnout observed in previous presidential elections is troubling, arguing that such high levels of apathy would be unacceptable in many other democratic nations. He concluded by calling for a shift in political culture where candidates accept electoral outcomes with maturity.
