CJID Raises Concerns Over Transparency, Operational Gaps in Osun Governorship Election
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has raised concerns over operational shortcomings, isolated irregularities and transparency issues recorded during the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
In its preliminary statement issued after the conclusion of voting, collation and declaration of results, CJID said its Election Analysis Centre and observers monitored the exercise across the state from the opening of polls to the final declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The organisation said the election took place in a largely peaceful atmosphere, although its observers recorded several challenges that require further review.
According to CJID, there was considerable early voter turnout in several areas, with INEC officials and election materials available at many polling units. However, the commencement of voting varied, while some locations experienced delays.
The observers also reported accreditation difficulties, prolonged queues and other operational challenges that affected voters during the exercise.
CJID said its monitoring further identified ballot-related disputes, cancellation of voting in some polling units, allegations of over-voting and instances where voting did not take place.
The organisation said it would continue examining observer reports and available election records to determine the scale and possible implications of the incidents.
It also expressed concern over reported restrictions faced by some accredited observers and journalists during the collation process.
CJID stressed that election observation should extend beyond voting and counting, noting that access to collation centres is necessary for independent scrutiny of the results-management process.
On the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), CJID said uploads increased significantly overnight after slower transmission earlier in the evening.
As of 7:42 a.m. on August 16, the organisation said 3,690 of Osun State’s 3,763 polling-unit results had been uploaded, representing 98.06 per cent, while 73 polling-unit results remained outstanding.
CJID acknowledged that IReV does not replace the statutory collation process through which election results are formally determined and declared.
However, it stressed that timely and complete publication of polling-unit results remained important for public verification and confidence in the electoral process.
The organisation called on INEC to upload all outstanding results that should appear on IReV and provide clear explanations for polling units where results are unavailable due to cancellations, non-conduct of elections or other documented circumstances.
CJID also urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to remain peaceful and channel any grievances arising from the election through established legal processes.
It further called on INEC to conduct a transparent review of the operational and results-management challenges recorded during the election, particularly delayed result uploads, cancelled polls, accreditation difficulties and restrictions on access to collation centres.
The organisation said it would conduct a more comprehensive analysis of observer reports, incident records, IReV data and other evidence gathered during the election before publishing its final assessment of the 2026 Osun Governorship Election.
