Abuja, Nigeria — The recently concluded Osun State governorship election may have produced a declared winner, but questions over the credibility of the electoral process remain, with the Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI) calling for greater accountability from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders.
In its assessment of the election, the civil society organisation argued that the declaration of an electoral winner should not, on its own, be treated as proof of a credible election.
According to SOAI, the quality of an election must be measured by the integrity of the process that produces the result, including transparency, fairness, accountability, a level playing field and the confidence of citizens and other stakeholders.
SOAI's assessment focused on six major areas: pre-election and election-day violence, vote buying, INEC transparency, election logistics, BVAS functionality and voter participation.
Violence and Intimidation Remain a Concern
SOAI raised concerns over reports of intimidation, threats and inflammatory statements allegedly made by political actors before and during the election.
The organisation said threats directed at perceived political opponents could create an atmosphere of fear capable of discouraging citizens from freely exercising their constitutional right to vote.
It called on security and prosecutorial authorities to investigate reported cases of electoral intimidation, threats and violence, warning that failure to establish consequences could encourage the repetition of such conduct and gradually normalise electoral impunity.
Vote Buying Raises Fresh Questions
The organisation also expressed concern over reported cases of vote buying and voter inducement during the election.
SOAI described vote buying as one of the most damaging forms of electoral manipulation because it can transform citizens' participation in democracy into a financial transaction.
It further raised concerns over reports of political actors distributing money around polling environments despite the presence of security personnel, arguing that such incidents raise questions about the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms.
SOAI called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate reported cases of vote buying and ensure that electoral offences are prosecuted.
"An election where votes can be purchased openly is not a free choice; it is a negotiated transaction."
INEC Asked to Explain IReV Disruption
One of the most significant concerns raised by the organisation relates to the temporary disruption in the uploading of election results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
SOAI said result uploads appeared to slow down or stop for more than two hours during the election before later resuming. The organisation said that, at the time of its assessment, INEC had not provided what it considered a satisfactory public explanation for the cause, duration and technical details of the disruption.
The issue is particularly sensitive given Nigerians' experience with technological challenges during the 2023 general elections, which affected public confidence in electronic results transmission.
SOAI is therefore asking INEC to publicly explain four key issues: the cause of the IReV interruption, the duration of the downtime, whether any results were affected, and the measures being taken to prevent a recurrence.
"Transparency is not an optional requirement for an election management body; it is the foundation of public confidence."
INEC Receives Credit for Improved Logistics
Despite its criticisms, SOAI acknowledged areas where INEC appeared to have improved its election-day performance.
The organisation noted that reports from several locations indicated improved deployment of election materials and earlier commencement of voting in a number of polling units, particularly when compared with previous off-cycle elections, including the 2022 Osun governorship election.
However, it urged INEC to continue improving logistics to ensure that polling units open at the stipulated time.
SOAI noted that delays can disproportionately affect vulnerable voters, including elderly persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and citizens who travel considerable distances to polling locations.
BVAS Reliability and Voter Access
The organisation also expressed concern over reports of malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices in some polling units.
While acknowledging the importance of technology in strengthening electoral transparency and reducing manipulation, SOAI warned that technological failures without adequate alternatives could create another form of voter disenfranchisement.
Reports cited by the organisation included delayed accreditation, slow BVAS response and inadequate backup arrangements at some polling locations.
Concerns were also raised about polling units with large numbers of registered voters allegedly having only one functional BVAS device. According to the organisation, prolonged delays reportedly resulted in some voters leaving polling locations before completing the voting process.
SOAI urged INEC to review its BVAS deployment strategy and establish stronger contingency measures for future elections.
Higher Voter Participation Must Translate to Higher Integrity
One of the more encouraging developments identified by SOAI was an apparent improvement in voter participation.
The organisation said increased participation demonstrated that Nigerians remained interested in democratic processes and continued to see elections as an avenue for influencing political leadership.
However, it warned that increased participation must be matched by stronger electoral integrity. According to SOAI, citizens' renewed willingness to participate could be weakened if avoidable institutional failures, electoral malpractice and accountability gaps continue to undermine confidence.
Higher participation, it argued, must be matched with higher electoral integrity.
Calls for Institutional Reflection
In its overall assessment, SOAI said the Osun election presented both achievements and important lessons for Nigeria's electoral system.
The organisation commended improvements in voter participation and aspects of election logistics but maintained that these gains should not overshadow unresolved concerns relating to violence, vote buying, technological reliability and institutional transparency.
It called on INEC to provide a clear explanation of the IReV disruption and strengthen accountability around electoral technology.
It also urged security agencies to investigate and prosecute reported cases of electoral violence, intimidation and vote buying, while calling on political parties and political actors to respect democratic principles and avoid practices capable of undermining citizens' freedom of choice.
SOAI further urged civil society organisations and citizens to sustain demands for accountability beyond election day.
The organisation's position is that Nigeria cannot build a credible democracy solely on acceptable electoral outcomes if questions remain over the processes through which those outcomes are produced.
For SOAI, the central lesson from Osun is that electoral credibility must extend beyond the announcement of a winner. Citizens must also have confidence that the process was fair, transparent and trustworthy.
With Nigeria already looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the issues raised from Osun could serve as an important test of whether electoral institutions are prepared to address technological, logistical, security and accountability challenges before they become larger national problems.
News Global reports that the assessment was contained in a statement issued by the Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI) on August 17, 2026 and signed by its Communications Officer, Wasila Usman.
