RismadarVoice Reporters
June 2, 2026
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed Electoral Officers (EOs) and Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) in Osun State to intensify grassroots voter education and strengthen inclusivity measures as preparations heighten for the August 15, 2026 governorship election in the state.
The directive was issued during a high-level Joint Implementation Meeting of the Voter Education & Publicity (VEP) and Gender & Inclusivity (G&I) Departments held on Monday in Osogbo.
INEC officials stressed that voter apathy, misinformation, and disengagement remain major threats to electoral participation and must be addressed through sustained community-level engagement.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, who addressed participants, described elections as a continuous process requiring extensive planning, voter sensitisation, and public enlightenment.
She urged electoral officers to deepen outreach efforts, particularly in communities with historically low voter turnout, and strengthen collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders.
“For a stand-alone governorship election such as the forthcoming Osun poll, voter education becomes even more critical,” she said, adding that citizens must be properly informed about when, why, and how to vote.
According to her, key voter education activities will include community sensitisation campaigns in markets, motor parks, religious centres, and schools, as well as targeted efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation.
The REC also emphasised inclusivity, describing it as a democratic necessity rather than a policy option. She charged the Gender & Inclusivity Desk to ensure that women, youths, persons with disabilities (PWDs), the elderly, and other marginalised groups are actively engaged in the electoral process.
“Every eligible voter must feel that the electoral process belongs to them,” she stated.
Director of Voter Education & Publicity, Mrs Victoria Etta-Messi, said the meeting was convened to align strategies between the VEP and G&I departments to improve voter engagement ahead of the election.
She noted that collaboration with partner agencies such as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) would be strengthened to enhance voter sensitisation across communities.
According to her, the objective is to ensure widespread awareness and promote informed participation among voters in all parts of the state.
Also speaking, Director of Gender & Inclusivity, Mrs Lakunuya Bello, said the meeting was aimed at reviewing preparedness and strengthening strategies for a smooth and inclusive electoral process.
She identified barriers to participation such as limited awareness, accessibility challenges, and socio-cultural constraints, noting that targeted interventions would be deployed to address them.
“Experience has shown that deliberate and sustained efforts are required to achieve meaningful inclusion,” she said.
She added that inclusivity remains a shared responsibility among INEC, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
Technical sessions at the meeting featured presentations by deputy directors from both departments, who outlined operational strategies for voter education, media engagement, visual communication, gender inclusion, disability access, and civil society collaboration.
Participants also engaged in discussions on field-level implementation, with electoral officers offering suggestions aimed at improving effectiveness at the local government level.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible, transparent, and inclusive governorship election in Osun State, while urging stakeholders to support efforts aimed at increasing voter participation.
The Osun governorship poll is expected to be an off-cycle election, with the Commission intensifying preparations to ensure broad civic engagement and improved electoral outcomes.
