Dare Babalola
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed Electoral Officers (EOs) and Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) in Osun State to intensify grassroots voter education and strengthen inclusivity measures ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The commission gave the charge during a Joint Implementation Meeting of its Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) and Gender and Inclusivity (G&I) Departments held on Monday in Osogbo, according to a statement posted on INEC’s official X page.
Speaking at the meeting, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Oluwatoyin O. Babalola, stressed that elections should be viewed as a continuous process rather than a one-day event, warning that voter apathy remains a major challenge to electoral participation in Nigeria.
She said successful elections depend on careful planning, sustained voter engagement, public sensitisation and deliberate efforts to ensure that all eligible citizens are informed and empowered to participate in the democratic process.
According to Babalola, many Nigerians still fail to participate actively in elections due to misinformation, inadequate understanding of electoral procedures, distrust in the system, political disengagement and limited access to election-related information.
“For a stand-alone Governorship Election such as the forthcoming Osun State Governorship Election, the responsibilities of the VEP Department become more critical. Citizens must understand not only when elections will hold but also why their participation matters,” she said.
The REC said voter education activities would include public awareness campaigns, community-based sensitisation programmes in markets, motor parks, schools and religious centres, stakeholder engagement and efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation.
On inclusivity, she described it as a democratic necessity rather than a policy objective, urging officials to ensure greater participation by women, youths, elderly persons, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalised groups.
“Every eligible voter must know: why voting matters, how to vote correctly, where to vote, and when to vote. Every woman, young person, elderly citizen, and person with disability must be made to feel that the electoral process belongs to them and that their voices matter,” Babalola stated.
She also directed Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to identify communities with historically low voter turnout, build relationships with traditional and religious leaders, and encourage local ownership of voter education programmes.
Also speaking, Director of the Voter Education and Publicity Department, Victoria Etta-Messi, underscored the importance of sustained voter sensitisation ahead of the election.
“As we prepare for August 15th, 2026 Governorship Election in Osun State, there is need for citizens to be duly sensitized and educated about the electoral process, to promote informed participation,” she said.
Etta-Messi explained that the meeting was jointly organised by the VEP and G&I departments because of their shared responsibilities and target audiences, noting that effective collaboration would help deepen public awareness and increase voter participation.
“The shared objective for both departments is to deepen public awareness, engender meaningful engagement for increased participation, and ensure that every community is reached, one way or the other, through our various interventions, in a bid to strengthening and consolidating our democracy,” she added.
The Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the implementation meeting was designed to align strategies, review preparedness and ensure all measures required for a smooth and inclusive election are in place.
She outlined key priorities, including strengthening collaboration between INEC, civil society organisations and development partners, promoting voter awareness among underrepresented groups and addressing barriers that may hinder inclusivity.
“Experience from previous elections has shown that deliberate and sustained efforts are required to achieve meaningful inclusion. Barriers such as limited awareness, accessibility challenges, and socio-cultural constraints must be addressed through proactive engagement and targeted interventions,” Bello said.
She added that inclusivity remains a collective responsibility involving both the commission and stakeholders.
“While INEC provides the framework and tools, stakeholders must play their respective roles to ensure that no one is left behind in the electoral process,” she stated.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State, with the commission aiming to boost voter participation ahead of the standalone poll scheduled for August 15, 2026.
