In the recent governorship election held on August 15 in Osun State, the election observer group Yiaga Africa praised voters for their vigilance, which they deemed crucial in preventing result manipulation. The organization noted that citizens actively monitored the electoral process, remaining at polling units to ensure the accuracy of results as they were transmitted to local government area collation centers.

Yiaga Africa's assessment, released on Sunday in Osogbo, emphasized that the election showcased the effectiveness of technology, citizen engagement, and institutional preparedness in upholding electoral integrity. Their findings, based on observations from 289 out of 300 sampled polling units, indicated that the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) closely aligned with their statistical estimates.

Dr. Asmau Maikudi, the Chairperson of the Osun Election Observation Mission, highlighted the resilience of voters amidst a tense atmosphere characterized by politically motivated violence and attacks on PVC collection centers. Despite these challenges, voter turnout reached 43%, a figure that reflects a commitment to participation rather than apathy.

"The resilience of voters in Osun was the quiet achievement of the August 15th elections," Maikudi stated. She pointed out that many citizens not only cast their votes but also remained at polling stations to witness the sorting and counting of ballots, as well as the announcement of results. This proactive approach was a significant deterrent against potential electoral fraud.

The election also saw notable improvements in logistics, with 96% of polling units opening for accreditation and voting by 9:30 am. This efficiency was achieved despite last-minute challenges, including a court order that necessitated the reprinting of ballots to include the Social Democratic Party.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned effectively in 80% of polling units, with solutions implemented for the remaining units. Furthermore, the use of downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) was recorded in 23% of polling locations, contributing to the transparency of the electoral process. Yiaga Africa reported that 99% of polling units displayed how ballots were marked, while 91% publicly posted results, and 85% transmitted results to the INEC's Results Viewing Portal (IReV).

In light of their observations, Yiaga Africa made several recommendations aimed at enhancing the electoral process for future elections. They called for binding guidance from INEC regarding the use of downloadable PVCs, a comprehensive technical audit of the BVAS to address any failures, and improved training for ad hoc staff. The organization also urged security agencies to enhance their measures against vote buying, emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

As the electoral landscape continues to evolve, Yiaga Africa’s findings underscore the critical role of citizen involvement and institutional integrity in fostering a credible democratic process in Nigeria.