Osun Guber: Political parties raise fresh concerns over electoral integrity

The Concerned Leadership of Political Parties, CLPP, comprising the Action People’s Party, APP, Young Progressives Party, YPP, Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Liberation Peoples Party, LPP, Young Progressives, YP, and other political parties, has expressed concern over the integrity of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election scheduled for 15 August 2026.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, the coalition through its spokesperson, Oluseye Titus Odesola, said it was alarmed by what it described as recent developments capable of undermining the credibility of the governorship poll, particularly regarding the transportation of election materials and the neutrality of election logistics.

The group alleged that the recent forceful takeover of motor parks across Osun State could be politically motivated and warned that such actions might affect the movement of election materials during the poll.

According to the coalition, “We are deeply troubled by the recent forceful and politically motivated takeover of motor parks across the state. This action signals a deliberate attempt to compromise the electoral process by diverting election materials.”

It called on democracy advocates, civil society organisations, labour unions and international election observers to closely monitor developments in Osun State ahead of the election.

The CLPP stated, “An injury to democracy in Osun is an injury to democracy in Nigeria. We urge stakeholders to pay close attention to events leading to the governorship election.”

The coalition also appealed to the Osun State Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to introduce a transparent and tamper-free system for transporting sensitive and non-sensitive election materials.

According to the group, “relying on a transport system it considers compromised could expose election materials to risks, including delayed deployment, theft of ballot papers and result sheets, and other forms of interference capable of affecting the outcome of the election”.

The political parties maintained that the credibility of the election would depend largely on the impartial conduct of the REC and strict compliance with electoral guidelines throughout the electoral process.

They identified key areas requiring transparency to include election monitoring, the deployment of electronic voting technology and other advanced systems, as well as the use of neutral transport arrangements for election logistics.

“The deployment of electronic voting machines and other advanced systems must be handled with integrity to prevent manipulation or technical failures that could compromise results. Election monitoring must remain free from political interference,” the coalition stated.

The CLPP urged all stakeholders to work towards safeguarding the electoral process, insisting that the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election should proceed as scheduled and that every valid vote must count.

Osun Guber: Political parties raise fresh concerns over electoral integrity