Election observation group Yiaga Africa has lauded the resilience of voters in Osun State during the recent governorship election held on Saturday. The organization highlighted the dedication of residents who not only cast their votes but also remained at polling units to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

During a press briefing at Adolak Hotel in Osogbo, Dr. Asmau Maikudi, Chairperson of Yiaga Africa, alongside Executive Director Samson Itodo, presented the organization's post-election report. They emphasized that the election showcased the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) capability to uphold high operational standards when adequately supported and monitored.

Maikudi noted that the successful execution of the election demonstrated INEC's ability to implement the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and transparently transmit results under favorable conditions. However, she urged the electoral body to replicate this success across all 176,000 polling units in Nigeria during the upcoming 2027 general elections, cautioning that a nationwide election would not receive the same level of resources and attention as a state-specific election.

"Osun demonstrates that INEC can meet a high operational standard, apply the Electoral Act 2026 and transmit results transparently when the election is well resourced and closely watched," Maikudi stated. She called for the conversion of lessons learned from the Osun election into institutional standards to enhance future electoral processes.

In her recommendations, Maikudi stressed the need for improved quality assurance for sensitive election materials and the resolution of inconsistencies in voter data. She also advocated for the standardization of the implementation of downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and the strengthening of the Election Result Viewing (IReV) portal to ensure greater transparency.

Addressing challenges faced during the election, particularly issues related to vote buying, security, and technical glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Maikudi proposed several measures. She suggested that INEC issue uniform guidance to presiding officers regarding the acceptance of downloadable PVCs and conduct a thorough post-election technical audit of the BVAS devices to identify and rectify failures.

Furthermore, she called for a review of security deployment strategies ahead of the 2027 elections, advocating for the joint presence of security officials and election materials at polling units on election day. Maikudi urged security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to extend their enforcement efforts beyond polling units to combat vote inducement in surrounding areas.

Political parties were also encouraged to invest in systematic training for their polling agents to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC's regulations. Maikudi emphasized the importance of political parties committing to democratic values and enhancing voter education as part of their preparations for the 2027 general elections.