CLEEN Foundation says the conduct of security officials during the close of polls in the 2026 Osun governorship election offers a blueprint for 2027, but urgent BVAS audits and electoral reforms cannot wait. In a statement from Abuja on August 18, 2026, the group reported findings from observers deployed across 30 LGAs. Security presence was sustained and rated adequate in 100% of reports. Officers were described as approachable and polling centres as orderly in all monitored locations, with overall conduct rated good or very good in 89% of units. Officers also followed Presiding Officers’ instructions in 100% of cases.
Despite the strong showing, CLEEN flagged lapses. Officers left post in 6% of locations and polling stations were left unattended in 2%. Force was used in 2% of units, while threat incidents were reported in 12%. Ballot box security for transportation was confirmed in 86% of locations, with 14% unclear. The group also recorded BVAS malfunctions and accreditation delays, noting that some high-volume polling units had only one device. From its Violence Observer Log, CLEEN recorded 7 low-severity incidents of intimidation or vote-buying in Ola Oluwa, Ifelodun, Ede South, Ilesa East, Iwo, Irewole and Modakeke. Separate media reports cited violence allegations in 6 LGAs, with Ilesa East, Modakeke and Irewole appearing in both datasets.
CLEEN recommended that government fast-track laws for prosecuting electoral offenders and counter disinformation. It urged the Nigeria Police to investigate all incidents, maintain presence through collation, publish CRU hotlines with case-tracking, and deploy mobile courts for election offences. For INEC, it called for public clarification of BVAS fallback protocols, a technical review of failures, documented chain of custody for ballot boxes, provision of multiple BVAS units at large polling units, and a post-election report to inform 2027 planning. The group also stressed continuous voter education and stronger oversight of vote-trading and campaign finance, concluding that while voting was largely peaceful, structural reforms are needed to ensure credibility.
