Latest – Page 12 – National Daily Newspaper

Ghana rejects MTN’s GH¢20m offer for victims of South Africa Xenophobic attacks

Ghana rejects MTN’s GH¢20m offer for victims of South Africa Xenophobic attacks

The Government of Ghana has declined a proposed GH¢20 million donation from MTN Ghana to support Ghanaian victims of the recent xenophobic attacks in South...

Global specialists to explore future of cancer treatment at ISRT 2026 in Lagos

Health & Fitness2 weeks ago

Global specialists to explore future of cancer treatment at ISRT 2026

Lagos is set to host the International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (ISRT) 2026, bringing together leading experts in nuclear medicine, oncology, radiopharmacy, molecular imaging 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.

Comments and Issues2 weeks ago

Digital Rights and the 2027 Poll in Nigeria

On June 2, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that its personnel had improperly accessed and exposed the voter registration data of Nollywood actor...

HURIWA commends DSS boss Ajayi, urges institutionalisation of human rights reforms

Latest2 weeks ago

HURIWA raises alarm over alleged political intimidation ahead of 2027 elections

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised concerns over what it describes as an emerging pattern of political intolerance, threats and...

Amid fresh xenophobia Ffears, 65 Nigerians set to return from South Africa

Latest2 weeks ago

Amid fresh xenophobia fears, 65 Nigerians set to return from South Africa

By Ogundele Eniola Another 65 Nigerians are scheduled to return home from South Africa today, as concerns over anti-foreigner attacks and discrimination continue to...

Modeling scam exposed: Dark reality behind fake opportunities, sexual exploitation

Crime2 weeks ago

Modeling scam exposed: Dark reality behind fake opportunities, sexual exploitation

By Ogundele Eniola A disturbing conversation about the exploitation of young women has resurfaced online after reports and social media discussions drew attention to...

Ogun Police uncover suspected baby trafficking hub, rescue Six

Crime2 weeks ago

Ogun Police uncover suspected baby trafficking hub, rescue Six

By Ogundele Eniola Mopelola A police operation in Mowe, Ogun State, has uncovered an alleged baby factory and raised fresh concerns over a suspected human...

Petrol Price War: Where are Nigerians getting the cheapest Fuel?

Energy2 weeks ago

Petrol Price War: Where are Nigerians getting the cheapest fuel?

Competition in Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market is becoming increasingly visible at filling stations, with motorists now paying different prices for petrol depending on the outlet...

Zenith Bank marks 10 years of championing Nigeria’s non-oil export growth

Business2 weeks ago

Zenith Bank marks 10 years of championing Nigeria’s non-oil export growth

Zenith Bank Plc has marked a decade of promoting Nigeria’s non-oil export sector with the 10th edition of its International Trade Seminar on Non-Oil...

NFIU reveals tactics terrorist financiers use to move, conceal illicit funds

Crime2 weeks ago

NFIU reveals tactics terrorist financiers use to move, conceal illicit funds

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has uncovered increasingly sophisticated methods allegedly being used by terrorist financiers to conceal illicit funds, including the use...