Yiaga Africa has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to activate contingency logistics arrangements to prevent delays in the distribution of revised ballot papers and result sheets ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.
Asmau Maikudi, Chairman of the 2026 Osun Election Observation Mission, Yiaga Africa, made the call on Thursday while presenting the organisation’s pre-election assessment of the election in Osogbo.
Maikudi said INEC must ensure timely delivery of the revised election materials to all Registration Area Centres and polling units before voting begins, following the late inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot.
She also urged the Commission to strengthen coordination within the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure proper security for polling officials deployed to Registration Area Centres ahead of election day.
On election technology, Maikudi called on INEC to resolve all outstanding technical issues with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), warning that failures could cause ‘disenfranchisement, delays, and other operational disruptions arising from technical failures.’
‘Immediately activate contingency logistics arrangements to mitigate delays arising from the late arrival and redistribution of revised ballot papers and result sheets, ensuring timely delivery of materials to all Registration Area Centres and polling units before the commencement of polls,’ Maikudi said.
She also urged INEC to uphold transparency and strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and its Regulations and Guidelines on results management, while guaranteeing accredited party agents, observers and media practitioners unhindered access to collation centres at all levels.
Maikudi further called for proper and consistent communication between INEC and transport unions and companies providing logistics support for election-day deployment, including contingency plans where transport providers withdraw from contracts or fail to deploy.
On security, she urged security agencies to maintain strict neutrality and professionalism in securing the election and sanction personnel who violate rules requiring impartiality, objectivity and non-partisanship.
‘Maintain strict neutrality and professionalism in securing the election, and sanction any security personnel who violate the rules of engagement requiring impartiality, objectivity and non-partisanship,’ she said.
She also called on security agencies to respect the rights of citizens, media practitioners and accredited observers, including their freedom of movement on election day, and urged better coordination with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in tackling vote buying.
On political parties and candidates, Maikudi urged them to commit to the terms of the Peace Accord, ensure peaceful engagement and call on their supporters to remain peaceful before and during the election.
‘Political parties, candidates and their supporters must refrain from vote-buying and the related practice of compromising the ballot’s secrecy and undermining the value of the vote so that the voters of Osun State are free to vote their preference for governor,’ she said.