Editorial
Osun Poll: Cynosure Of All Eyes
With less than 24 hours to the July 16, 2022 governorship election in Osun State, voters seem to be prepared to elect a governor that will take charge of the affairs of the state in the next four years. Incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, is eligible for re-election and has been renominated by his party. Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is totally ready to conduct tomorrow’s election.
The primaries, which were held between 16 February and 12 March, 2022, resulted in Oyetola winning the APC nomination for a second time, albeit amid whimpers from his primary challengers. For the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), longtime internal feuds led to two parallel primaries being held as a faction nominated former senatorial candidate, Dotun Babayemi, while the group recognised by the national PDP nominated former Senator for Osun West, Ademola Adeleke, the party’s 2018 nominee. INEC recognised Adeleke as the legitimate PDP contender.
The election will be a straight battle between Oyetola and Adeleke. This will be a replica of a similar outing in 2018, which was obviously a fierce battle between both candidates. But, two other parties, the Accord Party (AP) and the Labour Party (LP), would also make crucial impacts if they work harder to earn a victory. In all, the election will feature 15 political parties and candidates. Expectations are rife that tomorrow’s poll will be generously managed in terms of logistics than last month’s Ekiti ballot.
The Osun voting will once again demonstrate the degree of INEC’s preparedness and capability for the 2023 general elections. The vote-casting should mark the inception of a great shift to galvanise voters, especially the youths. Therefore, Osun people should equip themselves with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and troop into their polling booths to practise their franchise because their votes will count. They should resist any enticement to sell their PVCs. Capacity and courage are required from INEC to conduct a transparent voting exercise to enable the people to decide who their next governor will be.
INEC’s innovation in applying technology to the nation’s elections is quite estimable, as it has infused confidence in the country’s electoral process. The Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed by the commission comes across to have functioned more efficiently during the Ekiti election in June, as observed by the British High Commission and other election observers, unlike in Edo, Ondo, and Anambra States. The commission needs to improve on its feat in Osun.
An essential question is the security situation, especially in the face of some reported clashes in parts of the state. In one recent example, the collection of PVCs was disrupted in Erin Oke and Erin Ijesha Wards of Oriade Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of 46 voter cards. The commission has to act quickly to meet with relevant stakeholders for endorsement of the Peace Accord by political parties and candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.
Major political parties in Osun have been exchanging mutual allegations of planned violence. The police should take prescient measures, deploy their intelligence-gathering machinery and apprehend anyone plotting mayhem. They should beam their searchlight on leaders of the transport unions, who have become the main perpetrators of political and electoral violence in the South-West. They and their sponsors should be ruthlessly dealt with. This will send a strong message to others that the 2023 elections will no longer be business as usual.
INEC must proactively curb vote buying. The unprecedented buying of votes that characterised the governorship election in Ekiti State should not be replicated in Osun to stave off the election from being exposed to massive fraud. Nigerians must do everything within their means to protect the voting processes of the Osun poll from being hijacked and manipulated by the powers that be. It could be uncontainable if vote buying is authorised to repeat in tomorrow’s guber poll the same way it was done in Ekiti.
The obvious outcome of vote buying is that it is gradually becoming the bane of democracy in Nigeria. For a democratic nation, the electorate are slowly losing their voting power by exchanging it for money and other material things. And by so doing, there is a big distortion and hindrance to the idea of a free and fair election which ensures that the electorate elect the leaders they deem fit to rule them.
Furthermore, the rampant spread of vote buying is acting as a catalyst for the destruction and death of democracy in the country and also acting as a hindrance to the possibilities of good governance. Political parties which cannot provide capable candidates to govern the country but can afford to buy votes are now using this means to purchase their candidates into power. The apparent outcome is that those positions will fall into the wrong hands.
Rather than buy votes, political actors in the state have to make their campaigns issue-based, devoid of frivolities and vague promises. If the state must progress, those seeking to govern it must tell the public what they intend to do. The electorate would then base their votes on the issues. The state deserves to have purposeful governance built on clear developmental ideas, not Naira, pounds, and dollars. They must also ensure that candidates are offering solutions, not just intangible promises that are neither measurable nor redeemable.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should foster peace and boost inclusive election at the grassroots. They need to educate the voters, so that they can make egregious choices and perhaps reduce invalid votes. There is a necessity for continuous voters’ education to have desired results. CSOs can be effective in this regard. Groups, stakeholders, politicians, and political parties should sensitise, train, recruit, mobilise and deploy youths as volunteers for ward-to-ward and polling unit-to-polling unit anti-rigging ballot monitoring exercises.
INEC deserves to do better than the Ekiti poll. It should guarantee that the lapses witnessed in that state are not repeated. Political parties and their candidates always choose to move a step ahead just to beat the electoral umpire. The commission must adopt a proactive approach. It has been observed that some of the commission’s officials collude with political parties and their candidates to undermine elections. This must be disallowed in the Osun poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) disclosure of an alleged plot to target its ad hoc personnel ahead of the 2027 general elections demand urgent national attention. The reported arrest of suspects, with intelligence support from the Department of State Services (DSS), is encouraging, but must not breed complacency. Any attack on electoral workers threatens not only human lives but also Nigerians’ constitutional right to choose their leaders through credible elections. The alleged conspiracy must be thoroughly investigated, its sponsors identified and all those found culpable prosecuted.
Particularly troubling is the reported targeting of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who play a vital role in Nigeria’s electoral process. Many serve far from home and undertake sensitive assignments at polling units and other electoral locations. As civilians, they should not be exposed to intimidation, abduction or violence without adequate protection. If election workers are vulnerable, the safety of other officials, observers and voters cannot be guaranteed.
Nigeria’s electoral history offers painful lessons. Human Rights Watch reported in Nigeria’s Post-Election Violence, published in May 2011, that more than 800 people died in the violence following the 2011 general elections. NYSC members serving as electoral officials were among the victims. This tragedy underscores the deadly consequences of political tension, incitement and disputed outcomes. Nigeria must act on the latest warning before another preventable disaster occurs.
INEC deserves recognition for uncovering the alleged plot, while the DSS and other security agencies merit commendation for their reported assistance. However, arrests are only the beginning. Investigators must establish the suspects’ identities, motives, networks and intended targets, ensuring that evidence is admissible in court. The process must remain impartial and free from political interference. Credible public updates are also necessary, provided they do not compromise investigations or operational security.
The authorities must adopt a comprehensive, intelligence-led security strategy for 2027. INEC’s proposed security conference should produce practical measures developed in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), the police, the DSS and other relevant agencies. Threat assessments should guide personnel deployment, secure transportation, emergency communications, evacuation procedures and rapid response. Protection must extend beyond polling day to the distribution of sensitive materials, collation centres and the safe return of ad hoc personnel.
Those who provide intelligence must also be protected from retaliation. Confidential reporting channels and appropriate safeguards should be established for informants and others assisting investigations. Equally, security deployments must not intimidate voters or facilitate political repression. Personnel should act professionally, impartially and proportionately, within the law. Clear mechanisms for reporting misconduct and investigating abuses are essential to maintaining public confidence.
The threat also highlights broader concerns about trust in the electoral system. The European Union Election Observation Mission’s June 2023 final report identified shortcomings in transparency and operational implementation during Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, alongside concerns about the legal framework and electoral dispute resolution. Credible elections require more than security; they depend on transparent procedures, accountable officials and consistent enforcement of electoral laws. INEC must demonstrate measurable progress in addressing previously identified weaknesses.
Voter apathy presents another challenge. INEC’s published figures indicate that approximately 25 million people voted in the 2023 presidential election, out of about 93.5 million registered voters, a turnout of roughly 26.7 per cent. Although insecurity is not the sole cause of low participation, threats against electoral personnel can heighten public anxiety and discourage voters from exercising their franchise. INEC should strengthen civic education, improve polling accessibility and communicate procedures clearly. Political parties, civil society and the media must promote peaceful participation and reject electoral intimidation.
Misinformation and manipulated digital content pose additional risks. False reports, fabricated announcements and deepfake videos can inflame tensions, impersonate officials and mislead voters. INEC should establish a well-resourced, rapid-response communication system supported by verified digital channels and timely public statements. Collaboration with credible media organisations and fact-checkers would help counter falsehoods without suppressing legitimate criticism. Clear, consistent communication is indispensable, as administrative confusion and delayed explanations often allow rumours to spread.
Electoral integrity must also begin within INEC itself. The chairman’s warning against partisanship, negligence, extortion and ethical misconduct deserves serious attention. Security measures cannot compensate for officials who abuse their positions or disregard established procedures. INEC should strengthen staff training, ensure transparent recruitment and deployment, provide secure channels for reporting misconduct and enforce disciplinary rules consistently. Allegations of bribery and political interference must be investigated regardless of rank, while ad hoc personnel should receive adequate briefing, support and prompt payment.
The legal framework also requires clarity and consistent enforcement. INEC should explain the precise provisions and applicability of Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, including the obligations of electoral officials and security personnel, and publish authoritative guidance on neutrality and professional conduct. Complaints by opposition parties that they have been prevented from campaigning in certain states must likewise be investigated impartially. Any established violations should attract appropriate corrective action. Electoral fairness requires not only impartial polling officials but also lawful campaigning, access to competing viewpoints and freedom from intimidation.
The alleged plot against INEC’s ad hoc personnel is a warning against complacency ahead of the 2027 general election. Governments, security agencies, INEC, political parties and civil society must work together to prevent violence, punish misconduct and protect citizens’ participation. The commission should communicate its security priorities, maintain accessible threat-reporting channels and provide periodic updates on preparedness. Nigeria’s democracy cannot be safeguarded by assurances alone; it requires demonstrable preparation, impartial law enforcement and an unwavering commitment to free, fair and credible elections.
Nigeria joined the world in commemorating the International Day of the Girl-Child on 11 March 2026, an observance dedicated to advancing girls’ rights and amplifying their voices. This year’s theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” confronts a deep-rooted injustice and demands an end to sacrificing girls’ futures to prejudice and expediency.
The focus is child marriage, not as an unavoidable misfortune but as a preventable injustice. Though prevalent in many societies, the practice remains particularly troubling in parts of northern Nigeria, where it has become normalised. Reports of girls aged 10 to 13 being married off are disturbing. The controversy surrounding a Nigerian senator and former governor who married a 13-year-old girl further exposed the practice to global scrutiny, yet accountability at home appeared limited. When lawmakers disregard the law, society’s moral compass is compromised.
UNICEF’s statistics reveal the scale of the crisis. Globally, an estimated 650 million women and girls alive today were married before turning 18, while more than 12 million girls enter marriage annually before adulthood. In Nigeria, about 33 per cent of girls marry before 18 and 11 per cent before 15. The prevalence reportedly reaches 63 per cent in Jigawa and Zamfara States and 61 per cent in Sokoto and Katsina. These figures represent millions of childhoods interrupted and futures imperilled.
These statistics explain why the United Nations continues to campaign against child marriage and advocate investment in girls. The consequences are devastating. Girls whose bodies are not fully developed face increased risks of maternal death, obstetric fistula, sexually transmitted infections and psychological trauma. The economic cost is equally significant. A 2017 World Bank and International Centre for Research on Women Study estimated that ending child marriage could generate an additional $7.6 billion in earnings and productivity for Nigeria, as early marriage deprives girls of education, skills, and opportunities to contribute to national development.
Educating a woman benefits the entire society. As a mother, she often becomes her children’s first teacher and a vital influence on their character. An educated mother helps raise enlightened children, just as one candle can light many others without losing its flame. Denying women education undermines families and communities. To expect wisdom while deliberately withholding knowledge is to demand the impossible.
Several reasons are offered for marrying off young girls, including economic hardship, cultural practices and religious beliefs. In some households, daughters are treated as commodities, married early so that their bride price can finance their brothers’ education. While boys enter classrooms, their sisters are sent to matrimonial homes. This discriminatory practice is shortsighted, depriving the nation of half its human potential. A country cannot expect to run effectively after deliberately crippling one side of its capacity.
Beyond these justifications lies the entrenched belief that women ultimately belong in the kitchen, regardless of their education. This outdated notion is demonstrably false. Countries where women lead governments, businesses, research institutions and other sectors show what investment in female talent can achieve. Rwanda’s substantial female parliamentary representation is one example. Confining women to domestic roles limits not only their ambitions but also the nation’s progress.
A girl-child must not surrender her childhood to poverty or prejudice. Some traditions discourage women from attaining educational heights comparable to or greater than those of men, driven by the baseless fear that educated women will disrespect their husbands. Such thinking equates enlightenment with insubordination and empowerment with threat. This patriarchal mindset perpetuates inequality and keeps society trapped in backwardness.
Consequently, some parents consider educating their daughters a waste of resources, likening it to watering another man’s garden. This attitude is deeply misguided. Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and pursue her dreams. Early marriage mortgages her future, stifles her potential and traps her in circumstances she might otherwise overcome. No society can justify sacrificing a child’s prospects to outdated customs or immediate financial gain.
Ending child marriage must, therefore, go hand in hand with investing in girls’ education, safety and rights. Every girl should have the opportunity to realise her potential. This requires more than annual declarations, billboards, posters and seminars held in air-conditioned halls. Awareness without action is like a cloud without rain: promising, yet incapable of nourishing the ground.
The campaign must move beyond tokenism to practical intervention, particularly at the state level, where the problem is acute. Governments should formulate policies that protect girls and make education accessible. Scholarships, bursaries, conditional cash transfers, school feeding programmes and other incentives can help keep girls in school. When education is affordable and adequately supported, more girls can choose the classroom over the bridal chamber.
Civil society organisations, faith-based groups, and traditional institutions must intensify efforts to challenge child marriage and dismantle harmful beliefs disguised as religious or cultural obligations. Parents must also uphold their responsibility to protect and educate their daughters, despite economic pressures. A society that educates its girls invests in its future; one that marries them off in childhood mortgages that future at an incalculable cost.
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