- Odibo Victory
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political parties and electoral stakeholders has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to build on its performance in the Osun governorship election ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The coalition said the conduct of the election should serve as the minimum standard for future elections, urging INEC and other stakeholders to ensure that the 2027 polls surpass the gains recorded in Osun.
The group made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a National Post-Election Discourse and Roundtable on the outcome of the Osun governorship election and INEC’s performance.
The coalition comprises opposition political parties, the African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), Ethnic Youth Leaders of Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, Ohanaeze Youth Movement, Middle Belt Youth Forum, Oduduwa Consultative Youth Movement and the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement.
Reading the coalition’s joint address, National Organising Secretary of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Mr Obed Agu, described the Osun election as a victory for democracy and a new benchmark for the 2027 elections.
Agu urged President Bola Tinubu, INEC and political leaders to sustain the gains recorded during the poll, stressing that future elections should not fall below the standard set in Osun.
“Osun must not become an exception; Osun must become the benchmark. The standard achieved in Osun must be the floor below which the 2027 General Elections must not fall.
“If Nigeria can conduct an election in which political parties compete, voters freely choose, security agencies remain neutral, and INEC operates independently, there is hope for credible elections.
“If results reflect the will of the electorate, then there is no justification for returning to the old culture of intimidation, manipulation and electoral interference.
“The 2027 election must be better than Osun: more transparent, more inclusive, more technologically secure, more predictable and more trusted by Nigerians,” he said.
Agu said the coalition arrived at its assessment after two days of reviewing the election, adding that the Osun poll met approximately 92 per cent of the benchmarks adopted for the exercise.
He said the assessment covered institutional independence, adherence to the electoral timetable, professionalism of security agencies, polling procedures and electronic transmission of results through INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) platform.
“Our objective was not to determine who won politically, but to examine how the election was conducted, what worked, and whether key institutions demonstrated commitment to credible elections.
“Based on reports, observations and stakeholder experiences, the Osun election met approximately 92 per cent of the benchmarks adopted for review.
“While no election is perfect, the process demonstrated meaningful progress,” he said.
According to reports, the coalition also passed a vote of confidence in INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and President Bola Tinubu.
Agu commended Amupitan for his leadership, adherence to electoral timelines and engagement with political parties, describing him as a “new democratic hero” following the Osun election.
He, however, urged the INEC chairman to protect the confidence gained from the election by safeguarding the commission’s independence and expanding the use of electoral technology.
Agu said Amupitan should be assessed based on his performance in office rather than the circumstances surrounding his appointment.
“The appropriate test is his conduct in office,” he said.
He added that INEC’s performance in Osun showed the importance of an electoral commission that could operate independently and with integrity.
According to him, credible elections depended largely on the ability of the electoral umpire to withstand political pressure and allow voters to determine the outcome.
“The most important achievement of any election is not necessarily who wins or who loses. It is whether the people believe that they had a genuine opportunity to determine their leadership through the ballot,” Agu said.
He said the Osun election had helped to improve public confidence by providing voters with an opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights and have their votes counted.
Agu described INEC as an impartial referee whose role was to create an environment where voters could freely determine election outcomes rather than decide who wins.
“Mr chairman, you have demonstrated through the Osun election that the credibility of an electoral institution ultimately depends on the courage, independence and integrity with which its leadership performs its constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
Agu also commended INEC for maintaining regular consultations with political parties and exercising institutional restraint in matters concerning party deregistration.
“An appointment by a President does not automatically make an electoral umpire an instrument of the presidency. The true test is conduct, and Amupitan has earned our confidence through performance,” the statement added.
He also praised President Tinubu for what he described as federal neutrality during the Osun election, citing his directive to unfreeze the state government’s bank accounts before the poll and instructions to security agencies to ensure a fair contest.
The coalition further commended the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their professionalism during the election.
Congratulating Gov. Ademola Adeleke on his victory, Agu urged him to use the mandate to unite the people of Osun and provide effective governance rather than pursue political vendettas.
He also called for a responsible opposition, urging political parties and civil society organisations to recognise and commend government institutions whenever elections were conducted transparently.
Agu urged the National Assembly to continue reviewing the electoral framework and address weaknesses identified in the Electoral Act.
Speaking on behalf of the African Centre for Justice and Human Rights, Miss Precious Okonda said the true measure of democracy was the ability of citizens to choose their leaders freely without intimidation, coercion or fear.
Okonda said the organisation was encouraged by the outcome of the two-day discourse, describing it as evidence of “meaningful progress” in democratic participation.
She commended Tinubu for allowing the Federal Government to remain neutral during the Osun election, stressing that “neutrality by government is not a political favour. It is a democratic obligation.”
She also praised Amupitan for his commitment to institutional independence, stakeholder engagement, electoral preparation and credible election administration.
Okonda, however, said civil society organisations would continue to monitor INEC and demand accountability to ensure that the progress recorded in the electoral process was sustained.
Similarly, National Coordinator of the Ethnic Youth Organisations of Nigeria, Mr Melega Godwin, cautioned politicians against recruiting young Nigerians as political thugs during elections.
Godwin said youths were often the first victims of electoral violence and should instead be encouraged to participate actively in the democratic process.
“Nigerian youth do not want to be instruments of electoral violence anymore. We want to be participants in democracy,” he said.
He urged young Nigerians to reject vote-buying, intimidation, ethnic hatred and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.