The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has identified election logistics, misinformation and the conduct of security agencies as key risks that could undermine the credibility of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The organisation said the final test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would not be the completion of its pre-election timetable but its ability to deliver a transparent voting and collation process across the state.
In a pre-election assessment released on Friday ahead of the poll, CJID said INEC must ensure the timely opening of polling units, availability of correct election materials, effective voter accreditation and transparent counting and collation.
It also urged the commission to communicate promptly when operational challenges or disputed claims arise.
The warning comes after the late inclusion of the Social Democratic Party candidate following a Federal High Court order, bringing the number of candidates in the election to 15.
CJID said the development had created an additional logistical burden for INEC, which must ensure that ballot papers and result sheets reflecting the full list of candidates reach polling units without disruption.
The organisation said INEC had identified 385 security flashpoints and about 200 difficult-to-access locations through its risk assessment, urging the commission and security agencies to base their deployment on documented risks and terrain.
Misinformation threatens election credibility
CJID also warned that the information environment could become a major battleground during and after voting.
It identified false claims about voting procedures, security incidents and INEC decisions, as well as manipulated and synthetic media, as issues requiring close monitoring.
Of particular concern, it said, were attempts to falsely label authentic content as AI-generated, which could undermine legitimate evidence emerging from the election.
The organisation urged journalists to verify election-related claims before publication and avoid amplifying inflammatory or unverified information.
It similarly asked voters to verify information before sharing it.
CJID said digital platforms should strengthen measures against coordinated manipulation, impersonation and manipulated media while protecting legitimate political expression.
Security conduct under scrutiny
The organisation said security remained a major concern, citing 13 verified fatal incidents of election-related violence documented between May 2026 and August 13.
It stressed that the figure reflected its own verified reporting window and should not be directly compared with casualty figures from other organisations because of differences in coverage and attribution.
CJID said recent incidents included an attack on a party office in Ilesa, a shooting around a political gathering in the Igbogi area and an alleged attack on a governorship candidate’s convoy in Ife Federal Constituency.
More than 25,000 personnel from the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are expected to participate in the security operation.
But CJID said the size of the deployment alone would not determine whether voters feel safe.
‘Public confidence will depend on the conduct, neutrality, proportionality and responsiveness of deployed personnel,’ it said.
The organisation called on security agencies to protect voters, electoral officials, journalists and observers while ensuring that enforcement against vote buying and political violence was impartial.
It also urged candidates and political parties to restrain their supporters, reject violence and use lawful channels to challenge disputed results.
CJID said the responsibility for a credible election extended beyond INEC to political parties, security agencies, voters, journalists, civil society organisations and digital platforms.
‘The responsibility for a credible election does not rest with INEC alone,’ it said.