News – Page 17 – National Daily Newspaper

Ekiti PDP disowns Makinde mobilisation, rejects reported APM alliance

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...

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...

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...

US troop withdrawal puts Nigeria’s counterterrorism gains to the test

Latest1 week ago

US troop withdrawal puts Nigeria’s counterterrorism gains to the test

The United States is preparing to withdraw about 200 American troops deployed to Nigeria earlier this year to support counterterrorism operations, bringing an end...

Entertainment1 week ago

Karibi-George secures top 40 spot as Nigeria claims Miss World Africa top model title (VIDEO)

By Ihuoma Inyama Nigeria’s representative at the 73rd Miss World Festival, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has secured a place in the competition’s Top 40 after winning the...

Djokovic reopens COVID vaccine debate as pandemic-era controversies face fresh scrutiny

Latest1 week ago

Djokovic reopens COVID vaccine debate as pandemic-era controversies face fresh scrutiny

Tennis great Novak Djokovic has reignited debate over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and individual freedom after reflecting on his decision to remain unvaccinated during the...

Police challenge VeryDarkMan to provide evidence of alleged collusion with kidnappers

Crime1 week ago

Police challenge VeryDarkMan to provide evidence of alleged collusion with kidnappers

The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence supporting his allegations that...

Sanwo-Olu urged to investigate alleged removal of opposition campaign banners

Latest1 week ago

Sanwo-Olu urged to investigate alleged removal of opposition campaign banners

Public Affairs Commentator and advocate for good governance, Otunba Ademola Akinnola, has urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to investigate allegations that government officials...