EU Election Hub Urges INEC to Fix Technical Failures

The European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub issued a series of recommendations to the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders following the 2026 elections in Osun State. Drawing on data from 823 accredited observers across 30 local government areas, the Hub urged the commission to deploy rapid technical support and backup Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices to polling units where biometric capture failed.

While the Hub described voter turnout as impressive and mostly peaceful, observers documented 323 electoral offences and 38 security incidents. These violations included 103 cases of vote trading and 14 instances of voter impersonation. Of the 2,339,233 registered voters in the state, approximately 81.50 per cent had collected their Permanent Voters Cards.

The Hub called for security agencies to maintain a professional and neutral presence at polling units and collation centres. It further advised political parties to resolve grievances through judicial channels rather than protests, emphasizing that party agents should focus on lawful observation rather than intimidation.