Adebayo Adenrele
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has raised alarm over congestion and inadequate equipment in polling units with large voter populations in the ongoing gubernatorial election in Osun State.
This was stated in the organisation’s interim report read in Osogbo, the state capital.
According to the co-conveners, Celestine Odo and Mma Odi, the group said it deployed accredited observers to polling units across the state as part of its commitment to electoral integrity and democratic governance, describing the election as a critical threshold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It cited Ila-Orangun in Osun Central, where a polling unit with more than 1,100 registered voters reportedly had only one Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) device, leading to significant congestion.
The report also noted cases of faulty ink pads in many polling units in Ilesa West LGA. It said the issue was escalated to INEC and resolved at PU 13, Oba Ajimoko High School, Ward 5, Ilesa West LGA.
According to the Situation Room, its observation combined field deployment with reports from citizen observers using its Election Accountability Tracker (SEAT) mobile and web application, as well as reports from partner organisations such as the CLEEN Foundation, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).
In its preliminary assessment, the Situation Room said the election was generally calm and peaceful, despite the charged atmosphere that preceded it.
On the conduct of the election, the Situation Room said officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were deployed early, with voting commencing at the official time of 8:30 a.m. in 87 per cent of polling units observed. It noted that INEC personnel showed reasonable knowledge of election procedures.
However, it observed late commencement of voting in some polling units, including PU 002, Ward 1 (Agowande) and PU 001, Ward 2 in Olorunda Local Government Area; PU 009, Ward 1, Ede North LGA; and PU 010, Ward 03, Ife North LGA.
The Situation Room also expressed concern over congestion and logistical challenges in some polling units.
