Osun Poll: INEC Intensifies Grassroots Voter Education Campaign

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its Electoral Officers (EOs) and Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) across Osun State to intensify grassroots voter education and inclusivity campaigns ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The directive was issued on Monday at a Joint Implementation Meeting of the Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) and Gender and Inclusivity (G&I) Departments held in Osogbo, where the commission emphasized the need to tackle voter apathy, combat misinformation and ensure broader participation of women, youths, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalized groups in the electoral process.

Speaking at the meeting, Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, stressed that elections should be viewed as a process rather than a one-day event, noting that successful polls depend on effective voter engagement, public sensitisation and deliberate efforts to ensure that eligible citizens are adequately informed and encouraged to participate.

According to her, despite improvements in electoral administration, many Nigerians still fail to participate actively in elections due to misinformation, inadequate knowledge of electoral processes, 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 voter education become more critical. Citizens must understand not only when elections will be held but also why their participation matters,” she said.

Babalola disclosed that the commission would embark on public awareness and sensitisation campaigns as well as community-based voter education programmes in markets, motor parks, schools, religious centres and other public places across the state.

She urged Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to identify communities with historically low voter turnout, establish functional relationships with traditional rulers and religious leaders, conduct regular grassroots voter education activities and encourage community ownership of voter education initiatives.

“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,” she added.

The REC described inclusivity as a democratic imperative, stressing that women, youths, persons with disabilities, elderly citizens and other marginalized groups must be adequately represented in the electoral process.

Also speaking, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Etta-Messi, said there was a need to strengthen voter awareness and encourage informed participation ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

“As we prepare for the August 15, 2026 governorship election in Osun State, there is a need for citizens to be duly sensitised and educated about the electoral process to promote informed participation,” she said.

Etta-Messi noted that the commission would work closely with stakeholders, including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), civil society organisations and community groups to ensure wider dissemination of electoral information.

She explained that the joint meeting of the VEP and Gender and Inclusivity departments was designed to deepen public awareness, increase voter participation and ensure that every community in the state is reached through various voter engagement initiatives.

“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 strengthen and consolidate our democracy,” she said.

The Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs. Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the commission was committed to ensuring that the governorship election reflects the principles of participation, equity and representation.

According to her, barriers such as limited awareness, accessibility challenges and socio-cultural constraints continue to hinder the participation of women, youths, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in elections.

“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 remained a shared responsibility between INEC and stakeholders, urging all partners to contribute towards ensuring that no eligible voter is left behind.

“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 said.

The meeting also featured technical sessions during which senior officials of the commission outlined strategies for voter education, media engagement, publicity campaigns and outreach programmes targeted at women, youths, persons with disabilities, elderly citizens and residents of hard-to-reach communities.

Participants, including Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers from across the state, also discussed implementation plans and practical measures for improving voter awareness and inclusivity ahead of the election.

INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting a peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible governorship election in Osun State, with increased voter participation identified as one of its key objectives for the August 15 poll.

المصدر: Leadership (Nigeria)