Feyijimi Emmanuel

Ekiti PDP disowns Makinde mobilisation, rejects reported APM alliance

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from reports that it has begun grassroots mobilisation in support of Oyo State...

Dutch court sentences 66-year-old Rwandan man to life for role in 1994 genocide

Crime1 week ago

Dutch court sentences 66-year-old Rwandan man to life for role in 1994 genocide

A Dutch court has sentenced a 66-year-old Rwandan-born Dutch national to life imprisonment for his role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, including the massacre of...

Gaise Baba challenges Headies over limited recognition of gospel music

Nigerian Afrogospel artiste Gaise Baba has called for a rethink of how gospel music is classified and recognised at mainstream music award ceremonies, arguing that faith-based...

NSCDC seals two suspected illegal mining sites in Anambra

Crime1 week ago

NSCDC seals two suspected illegal mining sites in Anambra

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has sealed two suspected illegal mining sites in Ogbaru and Idemili North Local Government Areas...

FG seeks Nigerians’ input as work begins on 2027 Finance Bill

Business1 week ago

FG seeks Nigerians’ input as work begins on 2027 Finance Bill

The Federal Government has invited Nigerians and other stakeholders to submit proposals for the Finance Bill 2027 as it begins preparations to review and strengthen the...

Lagos launches 10-LGA campaign to make voluntary blood donation a habit

News1 week ago

Lagos launches 10-LGA campaign to make voluntary blood donation a habit

The Lagos State Government has launched a grassroots campaign across 10 local government areas to encourage residents to make voluntary blood donation a regular habit and...

Osun 2026: Vote-Buying, Security Concerns Raise Fresh Questions Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections OSOGBO — The 2026 Osun State governorship election has ended, but concerns over vote-buying, electoral technology, security and public trust could offer important lessons as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections. The August 15 election was largely peaceful across the state, with election observers commending voters and electoral officials for the overall conduct of the poll. However, reports of voter inducement, technical difficulties with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and isolated incidents of violence highlighted persistent weaknesses in Nigeria's electoral process. The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), in its preliminary assessment, reported BVAS delays and biometric verification problems in several local government areas, while observers also recorded allegations of vote-buying and isolated security incidents. Vote-buying remains a major concern One of the strongest warnings from Osun was the continued presence of vote-buying and voter inducement. Yiaga Africa said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with its independent statistical projections, but cautioned that this did not remove concerns about the integrity of voters' choices amid reports of vote-buying and inducement. The concern is particularly significant ahead of 2027, when political competition will take place nationwide and involve presidential, National Assembly and state-level contests. The International Republican Institute (IRI), following a pre-election assessment mission conducted in August, identified monetised political competition, election-related violence, insecurity and declining public confidence in INEC among the structural challenges facing the 2027 elections. IRI recommended stronger investigation and prosecution of vote-buying and voter inducement, urging INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and security agencies to act on credible allegations. Technology improves transparency — but has limits The Osun election also demonstrated how electoral technology can improve transparency. INEC's electronic transmission of polling-unit results through the IReV platform provided observers and members of the public with a mechanism to monitor uploaded results. Yiaga Africa subsequently said the official results were consistent with its independent statistical estimates, describing the outcome as evidence that the announced results reflected the ballots counted at polling units. However, technical problems with BVAS were reported during voting. CDD said difficulties involving biometric verification and slow processing occurred in several LGAs, including Irepodun, Ejigbo, Obokun, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ola Oluwa, Ede North and Ede South. These problems underline the need for INEC to ensure that electoral technology is not only available but also reliable, properly tested and supported by effective backup systems. Security remains another test for 2027 Although voting was generally peaceful, isolated incidents of violence and disruption were reported during the Osun poll. CDD called for security agencies to maintain political neutrality, investigate reported incidents and protect voters regardless of their political affiliation. IRI has similarly warned that insecurity and election-related violence could undermine meaningful political participation in 2027. Its assessment noted that more than 81 election-related violent incidents had been recorded in Osun in the year preceding the governorship election, with violence increasing as Election Day approached. The institute urged security agencies to identify high-risk areas early and develop location-specific plans to prevent intimidation, disruption and attacks on electoral participants. Osun offers lessons ahead of 2027 Despite the challenges, observers say the Osun election also provides evidence that improvements in election administration can produce positive results. Yiaga Africa's assessment found that INEC and security agencies largely passed the test of conducting the election, while its independent verification indicated that the official results accurately reflected the ballots counted at polling units. The challenge ahead is to build on those gains while addressing the weaknesses exposed during the election. For INEC, that means improving BVAS reliability, strengthening result-transmission and collation procedures and maintaining clear communication with voters and political parties. For security agencies, it means preventing electoral violence and ensuring that investigations and prosecutions are not selective. Political parties also face pressure to take greater responsibility for the conduct of their candidates, agents and supporters, particularly over voter inducement and intimidation. A bigger test awaits in 2027 The central lesson from Osun may be that a technically transparent election is not automatically the same as a completely free election. Electronic transmission can make results easier to monitor, but technology cannot by itself prevent voters from being offered money, threatened or pressured before they cast their ballots. IRI's latest assessment similarly stressed that the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on technical administration but also on security, consistent application of electoral rules, timely communication and public confidence in INEC. With Nigeria's 2027 general elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, the Osun experience provides both a warning and an opportunity: the country has made progress in electoral transparency, but vote-buying, insecurity and declining trust must be confronted before they are magnified across a nationwide election.

Politics1 week ago

After Osun, what Is the biggest warning sign for Nigeria’s 2027 election?

The 2026 Osun State governorship election has ended, but concerns over vote-buying, electoral technology, security and public trust could offer important lessons as Nigeria prepares for...

LASUSU Vice President tasks school management on students relation

Education1 week ago

LASUSU Vice President tasks school management on students relation

Moyosore Abisuga the 36th Lagos State University Student Union (LASUSU) Vice President, a fresh graduate-Bsc Communication and media studies has urged the managements of the...

Obasa Grieves Over Dotun Oladipo Death, Rallies Colleagues To Sustain His Journalistic Legacy

News1 week ago

Obasa grieves over Dotun Oladipo death, rallies colleagues to sustain his journalistic legacy

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa has joined the Nigerian media industry and family members of the...

₦7.78bn Ransom Paid as Nigeria Records 7,825 Kidnapping Victims in 12 Months

Crime1 week ago

₦7.78bn ransom paid as Nigeria records 7,825 kidnapping victims in 12 months

Nigeria recorded a sharp increase in kidnapping incidents over the past year, with 7,825 people abducted and at least 1,142 people killed, according to a new...

National Daily Newspaper

Stories By Feyijimi Emmanuel

Ekiti PDP disowns Makinde mobilisation, rejects reported APM alliance

Dutch court sentences 66-year-old Rwandan man to life for role in 1994 genocide

Gaise Baba challenges Headies over limited recognition of gospel music

NSCDC seals two suspected illegal mining sites in Anambra

FG seeks Nigerians’ input as work begins on 2027 Finance Bill

Lagos launches 10-LGA campaign to make voluntary blood donation a habit

After Osun, what Is the biggest warning sign for Nigeria’s 2027 election?

LASUSU Vice President tasks school management on students relation

Obasa grieves over Dotun Oladipo death, rallies colleagues to sustain his journalistic legacy

₦7.78bn ransom paid as Nigeria records 7,825 kidnapping victims in 12 months