- INEC promises Credible Election
By John Dike, Osogbo
A Professor of Political Science at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Shola Omotola, has identified voter apathy and vote buying as major threats to the credibility of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.
He made the observation during a policy dialogue titled “Voter Apathy and Prospects for Improved Voter Turnout in the Osun Governorship Election,” where stakeholders examined the causes of declining voter participation and explored measures to strengthen electoral integrity.
Also, he warned that vote buying, particularly by the two leading political parties in the election, poses a significant threat to the credibility of the poll.
According to him, the practice was evident during the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election and could be repeated in Osun if not effectively checked by the relevant authorities.
He noted that many Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process, resulting in persistently low voter turnout. He stressed that restoring public trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is essential to reversing voter apathy.
Omotola recommended that INEC institutionalise post-election reviews and exit polls to better understand voters’ experiences and improve future electoral processes.
He also questioned the continued conduct of off-cycle governorship elections, arguing that holding elections at different times across states has not significantly improved voter participation. He urged electoral authorities to consider conducting major elections simultaneously where constitutionally feasible.
Also, he lamented the low representation of women in elective positions, noting that only two women emerged as deputy governorship candidates in the Osun election. He described inadequate gender inclusion as one of the factors contributing to voter apathy.
He further called on INEC to develop a mechanism that would enable election officials, security personnel, journalists and other accredited election workers to vote while performing their official duties on election day, noting that the disenfranchisement of thousands of election personnel also contributes to low voter turnout.
Omotola observed that widespread poverty has made many voters vulnerable to inducement by politicians. He argued that political elites have weaponised poverty, creating conditions that encourage vote buying and weaken democratic participation.
Despite the challenges, he commended INEC for improving the credibility of elections through the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), saying the technology has enhanced transparency and reduced opportunities for electoral manipulation.
He urged civil society organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders to intensify voter education and mobilise young people to participate actively in the election.
The professor also appealed to all stakeholders to work collectively to curb vote buying, insisting that increased voter turnout would strengthen public confidence in the integrity of elections.
“Unless we address the factors responsible for low voter turnout and effectively tackle vote buying, voter apathy will continue to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process,” he said.
In a goodwill message, the Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Prof. Ibrahim Sani, represented by Mr. Asha’u Usman Jimoh, described voter apathy as one of the greatest challenges confronting democracy in Nigeria.
He said the Electoral Institute remains committed to supporting electoral reforms through evidence-based research, policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
According to him, tackling voter apathy requires collective efforts from election managers, political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and citizens.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Barr. Babalola Oluwatoyin, expressed concern over vote buying, vote selling, low voter turnout and election security, stressing that the challenges cannot be addressed by INEC alone.
She explained that the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal has made it increasingly difficult to manipulate election results, thereby enhancing transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
Oluwatoyin noted that while INEC is constitutionally responsible for voter education, other critical aspects of the electoral process—including election security, logistics and the prevention of vote buying—require the active collaboration of all stakeholders.
She disclosed that the commission is partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and relevant security agencies to curb vote buying and ensure the conduct of a free, fair and credible governorship election.
The REC reiterated that political socialisation is not the responsibility of INEC, stressing that the commission’s constitutional mandate is limited to voter education, a responsibility it has continued to discharge effectively.
She added that low voter turnout weakens democratic participation and undermines the legitimacy of the electoral process, urging eligible voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their civic responsibility peacefully.
Oluwatoyin called on political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, traditional institutions and the media to play their respective roles in ensuring a peaceful, credible and widely participated governorship election in Osun State.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Electoral Institute, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, said active citizen participation remains central to the success of any democratic process.
Ajayi noted that low voter turnout remains a major concern for the commission and urged participants at the dialogue to engage constructively and develop practical policy recommendations that would strengthen preparations for the August 15 Osun governorship election and contribute meaningfully to the success of the 2027 general elections.
Other stakeholders who spoke separately during the programme said tackling the problems of voter apathy and low voter turnout must begin with a change in citizens’ perception of the electoral process and a renewed commitment to participating in elections.
They expressed the view that INEC has made significant progress in its efforts to deliver credible elections but stressed that Nigerians must also change their attitudes by rejecting vote buying, vote selling and all forms of electoral inducement.
According to them, citizens should resist attempts by politicians to exploit poverty through the exchange of money or other gratification for votes, insisting that protecting the sanctity of the ballot remains the responsibility of every voter.
