According to the organisation, security personnel must secure the election without becoming participants in the electoral contest, applying the law impartially and avoiding conduct that could confer an advantage on, or create the perception of alignment with, any political actor.
Yiaga Africa has raised concerns over security threats, technical challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), vote-buying, inflammatory rhetoric and logistical pressures ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The civil society organisation said the election would be a defining test of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) preparedness, the neutrality and professionalism of security agencies, the conduct of political parties and candidates, and the resilience of voters in highly competitive and potentially violence-prone environment.
The statement was signed by Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, through Dr. Asmau Maikudi, Chair of the 2026 Osun Election Observation Mission.
The election is also the last major governorship poll before Nigeria’s 2027 general election and will provide an important early assessment of the country’s electoral preparedness under the new Electoral Act 2026.
