Founder of GoNigeria Initiative, a civic engagement platform backed by the ANAP Foundation, Atedo Peterside, has described the 2026 Osun governorship election as a crucial test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Peterside said the Osun election was the last major off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections, making its conduct and outcome significant to public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking on the election, Peterside said any failure by INEC in Osun could raise questions about the commission’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
“Osun is the last off-cycle election before the general election, so it is significant. If INEC bungles the election, chances are that they will not be ready for the general election…,” he said.
He stressed that the election should be viewed as a referendum on INEC, the security agencies and the police, saying their performance would be judged by Nigerians.
