Osun Governorship Election: Experts Interface on Credible Poll, Calls for Collective Action to ensure Credible, Peaceful Process
By Abisola Ariwodola,
Towards having a credible, transparent, free and fair election in Osun state, experts came together to interface on credible poll, and also called for a collaborative process.
The stakeholders which include International Press Center, Centre for Media Society CEMESO, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) Osun Command, National Orientation Agency NOA, Nigeria Union of Journalists and Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ voiced their submission at the programme which held at Aenon Suites and Hotels Conference Hall in Osogbo on Thursday.
Speaking at the programme tagged: Media and Election Stakeholders Dialogue/ Interaction on Credible Elections in Osun state, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Mr. Lanre Arogundade, called on election stakeholders in Osun State to work collectively towards ensuring a peaceful, credible and inclusive governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
He said the gathering was convened to strengthen collaboration among election managers, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and other critical stakeholders in promoting a transparent electoral process.
Welcoming participants, Arogundade stated that on the Component Four (Support to Media) of the EUSDGN II programme, IPC has been mandated to strengthen media professionalism, combat misinformation and disinformation, deepen civic and voter education, and promote the participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
According to him, several activities have already been implemented ahead of the election, including the establishment of a network of election misinformation and disinformation journalists and fact-checkers in Osun State.
Also speaking, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has received 95 per cent of the non-sensitive materials required for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, marking another milestone in its preparations for the poll.
The Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, made the declaration during the stakeholders’ engagement on the role of the media in promoting credible elections, organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Osogbo.
Babalola said the materials had already been distributed to the commission’s local government offices for batching and onward deployment to polling units, assuring residents that INEC remained on course to conduct a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election.
She explained that sensitive election materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, would be released during the week of the election in line with the commission’s operational guidelines.
Babalola stressed that the success of the Osun governorship election would require the collective efforts of INEC, the media, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and the electorate.
“INEC remains committed to openness, accountability and continuous engagement with the media. Together, through professionalism and responsible journalism, we can safeguard the integrity of the 2026 Osun governorship election,” she said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, representing the Commissioner of Police CP Ibrahim Gotan declared the readiness of the police to carry out his security duties before, during and after the election.
He called for the cooperation of stakeholders and also urged residents of Osun state to go out on election day and perform their Civic duty of voting the candidate of their choice at their respective wards without fear, adding that security operatives are on ground to protect all.
Other speakers such as the Executive Director CEMESO Dr Akin Akingbulu, applauded Osun journalists for cooperation with organisations towards the Osun election. He added that Monitoring and Evaluation of the activities shows the state ready for the election exercise, and he urged the voters to shun vote buying, election violence and bullying, while also charging the journalists to be security conscious in the discharge of their duties.
The NUJ Chairman Osun state Council, Dr Adeyemi Aboderin appreciated the IPC, CEMESO, other partners and EU-SDGN for the important programme for the professional journalists in the state.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists charged the stakeholders to embark on activities that it’s overall achievement will produce, a crisis free, free, fair and credible election on August 15, 2026.
Also, the State Chairperson Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, Comrade Abisola Ariwodola said the 2026 Osun Governorship Election presents another opportunity for the media to deepen public trust, promote electoral reforms, and drive voter education that leaves no one behind, especially women, youths, and persons with disabilities.
Commending the programme organisers, for convening the strategic engagement to build the capacity of journalists ahead of the polls. She added that “We believe that when journalists are well-informed and well-equipped, the electorate is better served and democracy is strengthened.”
“NAWOJ Osun State Chapter thank you for identifying us as a key stakeholder, and we pledge our full support and collaboration in ensuring that media reportage in Osun remains factual, ethical, and people-centred before, during, and after the election. – She concluded.
The Media and Election Stakeholders Dialogue/ Interaction on Credible Elections in Osun state was well attended by Media: Prints and Broadcast Journalists across the state, members of Osun Online Media Practitioners Association (OOMPA), security agencies, INEC officials among others.