Author: user user

Banker urges building up seaports

A revised transport network that connects China to western Thailand via a new deep-sea port in Ranong could serve as a more viable alternative to the Land Bridge project, which is considered less feasible, says a banker.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul recently announced the government would review the Land Bridge project to ensure it represents good value for investment, and may initially focus on connecting the “missing links” between ports on the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand, as well as other parts of the country to those ports.

Kobsak Pootrakool, senior executive vice-president at Bangkok Bank (BBL), said if the full-scale Land Bridge project proves difficult to implement, the priority should be developing western seaports and the connecting infrastructure, which has long been advocated.

Speaking following a visit to China with the government over the past weekend, Mr Kobsak said Chongqing could be a key market because cargo from the area could be transported through Thailand’s western ports for onward shipment to India, the Middle East and Europe, offering a more convenient route than via Shanghai.

Postponing the Land Bridge project and focusing on the completion of port development offers a greater chance of project success, he noted.

Rather than upgrading the existing port in Ranong, which is difficult to access due to its river location, Mr Kobsak suggested constructing a new deep-sea port at a more strategically suitable site.

Chinese business interests in Thailand continue to grow. Over the past three years, most foreign direct investment in the country is from China, driven by the “China Plus One” strategy and geopolitical factors.

When establishing operations in Thailand, these companies mainly require working capital, trade finance and local banking services, while domestic financing is expected to become more important in later phases, he said.

BBL aims to strengthen local supply chains. Several Thai companies have already begun producing vehicle bodies and components for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.

Thailand must capitalise on this trend as China expands its strengths in information technology, EVs, solar energy and eventually artificial intelligence, while Japanese technology becomes less dominant, said Mr Kobsak.

Thailand is becoming China’s regional hub for Southeast Asia, with many Chinese cities using the country as a distribution centre, he noted.

Although Chinese manufacturers may not initially rely on Thai banks for financing, later investment phases and supply chain expansion are expected to create new opportunities for local lenders, according to BBL.

This investment trend could help drive Thailand’s economic growth to 3-5% over 3-4 years as infrastructure projects are completed, said Mr Kobsak.

In addition, he said Thailand’s traditional industries must modernise to remain competitive with China.

Factories operating with decades-old technology will struggle to compete, making this an opportune time for businesses to invest in new technologies and production facilities, said Mr Kobsak.

Sri Lanka moves to scale climate finance and insurance solution for MSMEs in wake of Cyclone Ditwah

Chrysalis recently brought together an unprecedented cross-section of Sri Lanka’s policy, finance, and development community at the Granbel Hotel, Colombo, for a Dialogue and Reflection Session on ‘Inclusive Climate and Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance’ (CDRFI) for MSMEs.

Convened under the Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) approach, supported by CARE Germany and Co-funded by BMZ, the European Union, and Co-Impact Gender Fund, the event placed one question at the centre: how does Sri Lanka turn a proven community finance model into a national institution?

The answer has become urgent. Cyclone Ditwah, which tore through Sri Lanka in November 2025, left an estimated Rs. 50-85 b in damage across the MSME sector – enterprises that collectively account for 52% of the country’s GDP. Supply chains stalled. Cash flows dried up. For women-owned enterprises in the worst-affected areas, the impact was even greater, as they already faced credit constraints 32% higher than their male counterparts. Formal banks were unable to respond quickly, while available insurance products did not meet their needs. The gap was clear and immediate.

Into that gap stepped the Climate Resilience Revolving Fund (CRRF). Designed by Chrysalis with consortia governance, climate-event triggers, and repayment terms built around how small businesses actually recover, the CRRF moved recovery loans to affected members within 3 to 10 days of the cyclone – faster than any formal institution. For thousands of small producers, it was the only financial lifeline available.

‘Ditwah did not create the vulnerability – it exposed it. Sri Lanka’s MSMEs, especially women-led businesses in high-risk areas, have long been underserved by financial systems not built for their realities. The CRRF was designed to fill that gap. This dialogue is about making sure it becomes a permanent part of how this country responds to climate disasters – not a one-off intervention,’ said Chrysalis Chief Executive Officer Ashika Gunasena.

The dialogue opened with a detailed presentation of the CRRF model, which Chrysalis Programs Director Ahamed Rislan described as structurally distinct from conventional microfinance. Where traditional instruments rely on fixed-asset collateral and slow credit processes, the CRRF is triggered by climate events, governed by the consortia it serves, and engineered to release capital at disaster speed.

‘The CRRF is not microfinance with a climate label – it is built differently, and Cyclone Ditwah proved it. The model held. Now the work is to make it permanent and scale it to every MSME that will face the next storm,’ stated Chrysalis Programs Director Ahamed Rislan.

The session produced strong cross-sector momentum. The Ministry of Industry introduced SME NEXUS -the national framework for MSME growth -and signaled clear intent to embed climate resilience into its operational rollout. The government’s position was unambiguous.

‘Resilience should not begin after disaster strikes -it must be built into every MSME through policy, financing, and preparedness,’added Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry Additional Secretary Anoja Herath, who was a special guest at the event.

CARE Germany Program and Contract Management Officer Hanna Bartels said that the Multi-Actor Partnership exists to do exactly this – bring every part of the ecosystem into one room so that what works on the ground can be backed by policy and capital. The CRRF has earned that support’.

Two gaps dominated the afternoon’s discussion: the absence of parametric climate insurance for MSMEs, and the lack of granular data needed to build such products. Consortia members added a third: the need for faster, more accurate early-warning information from the Government before disasters strike. Their testimony was direct.

‘After Ditwah, our supply chain was gone overnight. No bank came. No insurer called. The CRRF reached us in days. We need this to stay – not disappear when the project ends,’ said Charlot’s Apparel Badulla Founder Nirmalie Ranasinghe.

The dialogue closed with stakeholders aligned on a blended-finance architecture: concessional public capital layered with GCF and GEF funding, IFI and development partner windows, commercial bank on-lending, and climate insurance – all delivered through MSME consortia at the last mile. Chrysalis will document the operating model and convene a technical working group within the next quarter to develop a cost national scale-up roadmap.

EAC unveils regional virus research centre to strengthen health security

The East African Community (EAC) has operationalised its Regional Centre of Excellence in Virology, marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen the region’s capacity for virus research, specialised laboratory training and disease surveillance.

The facility, hosted by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe, Uganda, was officially launched on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, by Uganda’s Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni.

The centre is expected to serve as the region’s leading hub for advanced virology research, laboratory diagnostics, scientific training, disease surveillance and knowledge sharing, enabling EAC partner states to better prepare for and respond to public health threats, including Ebola, Marburg and other emerging and re-emerging viral diseases. Launching the centre, Ms Nabbanja described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening regional health security, saying East Africa must continue investing in scientific research and innovation to address evolving disease threats.

‘The world is changing rapidly, together with its health challenges. We have learnt that a nation capable of studying its own pathogens is a self-reliant nation. Uganda remains committed to increasing investment in research,’ she said.

The EAC Council of Ministers Chairperson, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, said the establishment of the centre came at a critical time when infectious diseases continued to pose serious risks across the region and beyond.

She said lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that diseases do not respect national borders, making regional cooperation essential in preventing and responding to outbreaks.

Ms Kadaga added that although EAC partner states had strengthened their laboratory systems in recent years, disparities in technical expertise, infrastructure and resources remained.

She said the new centre would bridge those gaps by promoting scientific collaboration, specialised training and the sharing of expertise among partner states.

Representing the EAC Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Mr Ariik Malueth said the centre was among seven Regional Medical Diagnostic Centres of Excellence identified under the EAC Health Investment Priority Framework 2018-2028, approved by the 19th Summit of EAC Heads of State.

He said the centre would ensure specialised scientific knowledge developed in one partner state became a shared regional resource benefiting all East Africans.

‘Uganda’s selection reflects the Uganda Virus Research Institute’s internationally recognised expertise and decades of contribution to virus research, disease surveillance and outbreak response,’ he said.

UVRI Director, Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, said the institute was committed to supporting regional health security through cutting-edge virology research, specialised laboratory training, diagnostics, surveillance and scientific collaboration.

He noted that UVRI already played a regional role by confirming laboratory samples submitted by partner states before disease outbreaks were officially declared, ensuring public health decisions were guided by scientific evidence.

The operationalisation of the centre has been supported through the EAC Regional Network of Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases Project, with financial support from the German government through KfW and technical assistance from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM).

Uganda’s KfW country director, Jan Alber, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting East Africa’s health security, saying stronger laboratory systems and scientific partnerships were essential for building resilient health systems capable of responding to future disease outbreaks.

Gatchalian eyes renting PICC rooms for 2027 budget hearings

With the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte still ongoing, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday that the chamber might rent conference rooms at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to hold the upcoming hearings on the 2027 budget.

According to Gatchalian, several rooms have been occupied to accommodate participants in the impeachment trial, leaving only three available for legislative hearings.

‘Because the budget is coming in, because we have a lot of committee hearings to do, I can see that we will need to rent space at the PICC. Obviously, our… committee offices were used for the impeachment,’ he said in Filipino.

Starting July 27, the impeachment trial won’t be the only proceedings the senators will spend their time on, as the second regular session of Congress will also commence.

Typically, committee hearings are held on weekday mornings, while plenary sessions are held in the afternoon starting at 3 p.m.

Committee and budget hearings will likely be held only on Thursdays and Fridays starting July 29, as the new schedule for the impeachment trial will be conducted every Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with plenary sessions starting at 4 p.m., Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian admitted the difficulty that comes with a packed schedule.

‘It’s going to be a challenge, honestly. Now there have been two hearings – on average, each hearing is four to five hours. The budget hearing sometimes takes longer, so it’s really gonna be a challenge,’ he added.

While there is no schedule yet for when the budget hearings will begin, Gatchalian vowed that, under his leadership, the hearings will start ‘ASAP’ (as soon as possible)

Asean Dialogue Partners bare plans

ASEAN foreign ministers spent most of Wednesday in separate meetings with 11 of their dialogue partners: the United States, Canada, Russia, China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

The sessions were held behind closed doors, with media allowed only during the ministers’ opening remarks.

The meetings produced a wide range of pledges and announcements spanning trade, security, energy, digital cooperation, and regional stability.

Highlights included:

United States: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced:

US$2.5 billion in strategic US government investments

US$1.5 billion in Development Finance Corporation projects for aviation, energy, and supply chains

Nearly US$130 million in assistance for demining and civilian safety, plus initiatives to strengthen energy security through LNG market development, grid technologies, civil nuclear programs, and critical mineral supply chains

Canada: Foreign Minister Anita Anand unveiled:

C$1.7 million to help Philippine communities safeguard children from exploitation and recruitment by criminal and terrorist networks

C$1 million to the World Bank to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing in the Indo-Pacific

C$2.4 million to support the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering in tackling money laundering, terrorist financing, and emerging threats such as cyber-enabled fraud

C$455,000 to reinforce fair recruitment systems for migrant workers, and C$490,000 to support women’s leadership during the Philippines’s Asean chairship this year

Russia: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cited ‘promising prospects’ in food and energy security, as well as digital transformation with Asean partners.

Australia: Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, ‘We will cooperate where we can and disagree where we must, and we want to continue to engage because we believe that is in our national interest.’ She emphasized peace and stability in the region, professional military conduct, transparency of intent, and issues of consular affairs and human rights.

European Union: High Representative Kaja Kallas called for a strategic partnership with ASEAN ‘based on concrete action,’ highlighting cooperation in supply chain resilience, digital and green transition, and protection of undersea critical infrastructure and maritime security.

China: Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted Asean-China trade volume reached US$1 trillion in 2025, stressing that ‘mutual trust and mutual benefit’ had been the foundation of progress. He expressed hope that ‘sincerity, inclusiveness, and cooperation’ would drive future prosperity.

South Korea: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun outlined pragmatic initiatives under the new South Korea-Asean Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including an AI-companionship program and cultural and creative industry projects.

Japan: Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu warned that the free and open international order based on the rule of law faces challenges, with Asean at the core of the Indo-Pacific. He pledged Japan would remain a ‘trusted partner’ and help Asean become ‘stronger and more prosperous together.’

New Zealand: Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Asean counterparts issued a joint statement committing to:

Advance cooperation on climate-smart agriculture for resilient agri-food systems and supply chains

Foster dialogues and practical activities, consistent with international law, to promote safe sea lanes, energy security, renewable energy, sustainable fisheries, and marine environment protection

Utilize the newly launched Asean-New Zealand Vision Fund to support regional cooperation and sustainable development initiatives

India: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed that India and Asean-representing 2 billion people-must navigate together in a world in transition. He noted 2026 as the ‘year of maritime cooperation,’ with opportunities in trade, investment, mobility, technology, AI, sustainability, and connectivity. ‘It is only through deeper cooperation that we can de-risk and diversify,’ he said.

United Kingdom. Barely 48 hours after his appointment as foreign secretary, Edward Miliband flew to Manila to meet his Asean colleagues around 9 p.m. local time. He highlighted that although Asean-UK relations are only five years old, they have already delivered practical results such as the Asean power grid, enhanced cooperation against online scams and organized crime, and initiatives in health security and education. Miliband assured that London will work intensively with partners to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and upholding freedom of navigation. He also expressed hope that the UK will soon become a permanent member of the Asean Regional Forum.

Mixx powers cashless payments for Zanzibar’s electric bus project

Passengers using Zanzibar’s newly launched electric buses will pay fares through a fully cashless smart card system managed by digital financial services provider Mixx, marking a significant step in the islands’ drive to modernise public transport.

The payment platform was unveiled on Thursday, July 23, alongside the launch of the ZanBus electric bus project by President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Mwinyi said the project reflects the government’s commitment to building a modern, safe and environmentally friendly public transport system while accelerating the transition to clean energy. “The launch of this electric bus project is part of our commitment to building a modern, safe and environmentally friendly public transport system. We pledged to introduce electric public transport to reduce environmental pollution while providing better services to our people,” he said.

Dr Mwinyi said the initial rollout marks the beginning of a broader plan to expand the fleet to 500 electric buses as part of the government’s long-term ambition to transition public transport to electric mobility.

“Ultimately, we aim to achieve a zero-emissions transport system, protect the environment and transform Zanzibar into a modern city offering quality services to its citizens,” he added.

The project is being implemented by the Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF), which describes the investment as a long-term initiative expected to improve public transport while supporting sustainable economic growth.

ZSSF Managing Director Nassor Shaaban Ameir said the project goes beyond improving commuter services by promoting technology adoption, environmental protection and economic development.

“The ZanBus project is a long-term investment for the people of Zanzibar. Beyond improving public transport services, it will accelerate technology adoption, protect the environment and stimulate economic growth,” he said.

Under the new system, passengers will no longer need to carry cash. Instead, they will use smart cards integrated with the Mixx digital payments platform, allowing them to pay fares electronically.

Mixx Chief Operating Officer Arnold Ngarashi said passengers will be able to top up their cards using mobile phones or through the company’s network of nearly 20,000 agents across Zanzibar.

“In today’s digital economy, modern public transport cannot operate effectively without a modern payment system. Through Mixx, passengers will be able to top up their smart cards easily using their mobile phones or through our network of nearly 20,000 agents across Zanzibar,” he said.

Mr Ngarashi said the platform is expected to improve revenue transparency, enhance the passenger experience and create opportunities to integrate additional digital services into the transport sector in future.

He added that Mixx’s involvement reflects the company’s commitment to expanding digital payment solutions across key sectors of the economy, including transport, commerce and public services.

Mr Ngarashi also said sister companies Yas and Yas Fiber are working with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to strengthen the islands’ digital infrastructure, including Yas Fiber’s planned investment of about Sh300 billion to expand fibre-optic connectivity across Zanzibar.

Panitchaphon keeps Thai hopes alive

Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul kept the Thai hopes alive in Changzhou after the 21-year-old rising star booked his berth in the last 16 of the US$2 million BWF China Open on Wednesday.

Panitchaphon is the only Thai player left in the men’s singles event after Kunlavut Vitidsarn suffered a shock early exit on Wednesday in the season’s final Super 1000 tournament.

Panitchaphon edged Koki Watanabe of Japan in two tough games, 21-19, 21-19, to advance to the last 16 after 43 minutes. Awaiting the Thai star in the last 16 on Thursday is home favourite and world No.1 Shi Yuqi of China.

Shi came through his first round match when his Singaporean opponent Jason Teh retired with an injury during the second game on Tuesday.

Meanwhile world No.2 Kunlavut suffered a shock loss in his opening match against the 30th-ranked Rasmus Gemke of Denmark, 21-13, 8-21, 21-19 in 71 minutes.

The loss continues a poor spell for the Thai star, who lost to Yushi Tanaka — another opponent he should have beaten — in the quarter-finals of the Japan Open last week. Kunlavut won his only title this year at the season-opening Malaysia Open back in January.

The Thai contingent suffered more blows as both Supanida Katethong and Pornpawee Chochuwong crashed out in the opening round of the women’s singles event.

Supanida tamely lost to Akane Yamaguchi 21-13, 21-1 — her 10th consecutive loss against the Japanese — while Pornpawee, the eighth seed, retired during her first round match against Huang Yu-hsun of Taiwan.

Women’s singles player Pitchamon Opatniputh and mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran were scheduled to play their first round matches later on Wednesday.

Also on Thursday, Ratchanok Intanon and Busanan Ongbamrungphan, who both needed three games to overcome their first round opponents on Tuesday, will play Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam and sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia respectively.

Mixed doubles pair Pakkapon Teeraratsakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai will take on sixth seeds Tom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue of France while women’s doubles players Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard will play either Kim Hye-Jeong/Kong Hee-Yong of South Korea or Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari of Indonesia.

MLB: Red Sox’s record-equaling streak halted at 15 wins

The Boston Red Sox tied their 80-year-old franchise record with a 15th straight Major League Baseball win on Wednesday, but couldn’t go one better as they fell in the second game of a double-header.

Boston topped the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 at Fenway Park to notch their 15th straight Major League Baseball win.

That tied the club record set in 1946 by a team led by Hall of Famer Ted Williams.

The streak then ended with a 5-1 loss to the Orioles in the nightcap.

‘I think everybody knew it was going to end at some point,’ Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. ‘Now we’ve got to refocus.’

The Red Sox got to work quickly in the opening game, postponed from Tuesday by rain.

They took a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single by Caleb Durbin and a two-run triple by Jarren Duran.

Duran delivered a sacrifice fly for a run in the third and Ceddanne Rafaela belted his ninth home run of the season in the fourth.

Tracy said his players had ‘accomplished something great’ in matching the 1946 team and achieving the longest MLB winning streak since the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 straight in 2021.

Baltimore jumped on Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rivera early in the second game, taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning and rolling home.

It was the Red Sox’s first defeat since a 10-2 home loss to Washington on July 1.

The streak marked a stunning turnaround for Boston, who were floundering at 32-46 on June 24 but are now approaching the trade deadline with a playoff berth in their sights.

‘Not only did we have a run of 15 wins, we found out who we are – and we’re a good baseball team,’ Tracy said.

Child account removals on TikTok in Kenya fall sharply

China social media company TikTok removed 48,739 accounts suspected to belong to users under the age of 13 in the quarter to March 2026, marking a 47.98 percent drop compared to the preceding quarter’s 93,704-signalling the gains of previous purges on child users.

Children aged 13 and over are allowed to use the TikTok platform, which is highly popular with teenagers.

‘TikTok removed 48,739 accounts suspected to belong to users under the age of 13, a violation of its Community Guidelines, highlighting the platform’s commitment to protecting younger users online,’ the platform said.

The social media company disclosed that overall, it removed 884,591 videos in Kenya for violating its community guidelines.

This is a jump from the previous quarter to December, when 820,552 videos from the country were taken down, pointing to an increasing generation of content from Kenya that does not meet its safety rules and a heavy reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) moderation tools to police content.

TikTok’s Community Guidelines ban content that promotes violence, criminal activity, hate speech, harassment, or abuse. Users are not allowed to post material that encourages violence.

‘In the first quarter of 2026, TikTok removed 884,591 videos for violating its Community Guidelines in Kenya. 99.7 percent of these videos were proactively removed before anyone reported them, while 96.3 percent were taken down within 24 hours of posting,’ said TikTok.

‘These figures underscore TikTok’s continued investment in advanced detection systems and rapid response mechanisms designed to limit the spread of harmful content.’

Social media companies, including Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, are turning to AI-powered content moderation to detect, flag, and remove harmful content, such as graphic violence and hate speech.

These systems utilise machine learning and natural language processing to handle vast volumes of data, reducing the burden on human teams. While AI accelerates the process, human moderators are mostly still used for final, nuanced, or borderline decisions.

‘Automated removals, including those by AI, now make up more than 96 percent of total removals,’ the social media platform said.

In Kenya, TikTok interrupted 103,847 LIVE rooms for violation of guidelines in the quarter to March 2026.

The platform recorded a proactive removal rate of 99.7 percent in Kenya in the three months to March 2026. Proactive removal means identifying and removing a video before it’s reported, which was significantly high, aided by the use of AI.

TikTok removed 96.3 percent of the harmful videos within 24 hours of posting on the platform.

‘In Quarter 1 of 2026, TikTok removed 14,261 videos under our policy for edited media and AI-generated content (AIGC),’ the firm added.

TikTok requires creators to label realistic AIGC. The site forbids content related to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, or abuse of adults or children.

While TikTok welcomes political conversations, remarks that create or pose a substantial danger of harm are removed.

Harassment, bullying, and doxing are also prohibited.

To safeguard users’ mental health, content that depicts suicide, self-harm, risky stunts, or eating disorders is prohibited.

Additionally, TikTok prohibits graphic violence, animal abuse, and explicit sexual content. It also eliminates false information, especially about elections, public health, and civic processes, and mandates that AI-generated or significantly modified media be disclosed.

N10,000 transfers, food gifts raise fresh concerns before Osun election

Yiaga Africa has raised concerns about the credibility of the upcoming Osun State governorship election, warning that the poll could be affected by voter inducement.

In its pre-election report, the organisation said its observers recorded an increase in the sharing of cash and gift items by politicians and their supporters during campaign activities and community visits.

The report, based on observations carried out between June 14 and June 29, 2026, said many of the items were presented as charity or social support, but their timing close to the election could influence how people vote.

Yiaga Africa said incidents were reported in Irepodun, Ola-Oluwa, Olorunda and Osogbo Local Government Areas.

According to the report, a group known as the ITK Sisters shared cash, garri, beans and other food items with residents in Ilobu and Erin in Irepodun LGA. Similar distributions were also reported in Ekerele-Iwara in Ola-Oluwa LGA, as well as parts of Olorunda and Osogbo.

The organisation also reported a more advanced form of voter inducement in Ife South LGA. On July 7, 2026, some residents of Ara Joshua Village in Osi Ward reportedly received electronic transfers of N10,000 with the description, ‘Renewed Hope Ambassadors/APC EPYT.’

Yiaga Africa said the payments were linked to an earlier exercise in March 2026 when individuals collected voters’ Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) and National Identification Numbers (NINs). The same people later returned in June to collect beneficiaries’ bank account details before sending the money.

The organisation warned that this method of influencing voters is more difficult to detect because it happens long before election day and leaves little evidence compared to traditional vote buying at polling units.

Yiaga Africa also expressed concern over the low level of voter education for women, young people and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

It said voter education programmes for women were only reported in Irewole and Ola-Oluwa LGAs. Youth-focused campaigns were conducted by INEC in Irewole and Ola-Oluwa, while a civil society organisation carried out a similar programme in Ede South LGA.

For Persons with Disabilities, Yiaga Africa said only INEC organised targeted voter education, and this was limited to Ola-Oluwa LGA.

The organisation called for greater efforts to protect the integrity of the election and ensure all eligible voters receive proper civic education before the governorship poll.