Osun Election Week: NAWOJ Calls on Stakeholders to Embrace Peace and Shun Violence, Unrest, Ballot Snatching
As Osun State counts down to the August 15, 2026 Governorship Election, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Osun State Chapter, has urged all political actors, security agencies, and voters to embrace peace and shun all forms of violence, unrest, and ballot snatching.
In a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo, the Chairperson of NAWOJ Comrade Abisola Ariwodola, and Secretary Oluwaranti Ojewumi, said the association is deeply concerned about rising tension, reports of attacks, and destruction of electoral materials ahead of the poll.
NAWOJ noted that women and children bear the heaviest brunt of election violence, citing past incidents in the state including the 2018 rerun where a pregnant woman was attacked at a polling unit and lost the pregnancy.
“We call on all stakeholders, political parties, candidates, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and security agencies — to put Osun first. Violence, unrest, and ballot snatching will only set our state backwards,” the statement read.
The association stressed that the right to vote is constitutional and must be protected for women, nursing mothers, persons with disabilities, and all eligible voters without fear or intimidation.
NAWOJ demands Peaceful Campaigns, for all political parties and supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid hate speech and provocation.
We maintain that protection of Women Voters is important. Security agencies should deploy adequately to polling units, especially in flashpoints like identified as high-risk areas, and across the state.
NAWOJ condemned the recent theft of PVCs and BVAS devices and called for immediate arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, while it urged that such should not be seen on the day of the election.
Osun NAWOJ used the medium to call on its Community on Media Responsibility, to report factually and avoid spreading misinformation that can incite violence, and it also called on Traditional and religious leaders to use their platforms to preach tolerance, fairness, and mutual respect throughout the electioneering period.
NAWOJ also called on women across the 30 LGAs of Osun to come out en masse on August 15 to exercise their franchise peacefully. “Do not be intimidated. Your PVC is your power. Come out, vote, and protect your vote. But do so peacefully” NAWOJ advised.
NAWOJ also called on security agencies to be proactive and maintain law and order, before, during and after the elections.
The association pledged to monitor the election process and provide real-time reporting through its members across the state, in line with its mandate to promote issue-based and violence-free elections.
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