The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has lauded the peaceful conduct of the Osun State governorship election, which took place amid a tense pre-election environment. The coalition of civil society organizations noted that voters showed their commitment to democracy by turning out early to cast their ballots.

Celestine Odo, Co-Convener of the Situation Room, reported that the group observed the timely deployment of electoral personnel and materials, with voting commencing on schedule in 87 percent of polling units. However, the coalition highlighted significant issues, particularly congestion and delays at certain polling locations. In areas with high numbers of registered voters, such as Ila-Orangun in Osun Central, the inadequate deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices led to long wait times, risking the disenfranchisement of voters.

In addition to the BVAS challenges, the Situation Room also noted technical difficulties with ink pads at several polling units in the Ilesa West Local Government Area, where a shortage of ink hampered the printing process. The coalition expressed concerns over reports of vote buying and other forms of electoral inducement, urging political actors to respect the autonomy of voters in making their choices.

Despite these challenges, the Situation Room commended polling officials for their professionalism and dedication to the electoral process. Observations indicated that party agents were present in most polling units, contributing to the overall integrity of the election.

As the counting and result management process began in the evening, the coalition emphasized the importance of transparency during this critical stage. They called on electoral officials to ensure that the counting and declaration of results at polling units were conducted openly, in the presence of accredited party agents and other authorized observers.

The Situation Room also urged political parties and their supporters to address any disagreements regarding the results through appropriate legal and administrative channels, rather than resorting to violence or disruption. The coalition plans to continue monitoring the situation as the collation of results progresses.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is a coalition comprising various organizations dedicated to promoting credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, including the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, ActionAid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).