By: Peter Emmanuel |
I arrived in Osun State through Ilesa Garage on Thursday, August 13, 2026, two days before the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15.
On arrival, my first observation was the calm atmosphere at the garage. Travelers were moving in and out of the state, while commercial transport operators attended to passengers without any noticeable disruption. The roads and motor park were active, and there was no immediate sign of the tension often associated with elections.
Thursday was also the final day of political campaigns across the state.
As I moved through Osogbo, I saw large crowds in different parts of the city as political parties rounded off their campaigns. Supporters gathered in large numbers, campaign vehicles moved around, and political activities dominated several parts of the city.
The large turnout for the final campaign activities showed the level of political interest surrounding the election.
Later that day, I attended a stakeholders’ briefing organized by the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) in Osogbo, where the organization presented its assessment of election-related violence and the security situation ahead of the poll.
According to KDI, election-related violence in Osun has gradually increased since May 2026. The organization warned that rising violence could suppress voter turnout by creating fear and discouraging citizens from participating in the electoral process.
KDI also identified behavioural changes among residents and political stakeholders. Some citizens were reportedly avoiding political rallies because of fears of violence, while politicians and community members were restricting their movements, particularly at night. Others were avoiding evening political meetings because of security concerns.
The observations presented at the briefing were significant, but my experience on the ground also showed another side of Osun.
By Friday afternoon, economic activities remained active across several parts of the state.
In Osogbo, Ikire, Ede, Ife, Irepodun, and other communities I passed through, businesses remained open. Market activities continued as traders displayed their goods and attended to customers. Both daily and weekly markets were operating, while commercial transport operators continued to move passengers.
In Osogbo, the roads remained busy with residents going about their normal activities. In Ede and Ikire, business owners continued their daily transactions, while similar activities were observed in parts of Ife and Irepodun.
The situation presented an interesting contrast to the security concerns being raised ahead of the election.
While concerns about violence remain part of the conversation, many residents appear determined to continue with their businesses and daily routines.
My second day in Osun also provided an opportunity to look beyond political campaigns and observe the systems being put in place to monitor the election.
I met with Mbasekei Martin Obono, Executive Director of Tap Initiative, who recently had just launched the IReportINEC, an independent, citizen-led civic technology platform for Citizens Development.
During our discussion, Obono explained the usefulness of iReportINEC and how it allows citizens to document and report incidents during elections.
He explained that the platform goes beyond what is ordinarily done during election periods. According to him, iReportINEC is not limited to election-day reporting but is designed to encourage continuous citizen participation, accountability, and engagement with governance beyond the election.
I also visited the situation rooms of election observation organizations, including the International Press Centre (IPC), the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), Yiaga Africa, and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO).
The visits provided an opportunity to see how election observers were preparing for polling day. Their activities included coordinating field deployments, receiving reports from observers, monitoring developments, and establishing communication channels for reporting incidents.
These engagements gave me a broader understanding of election coverage.
While candidates and political parties dominate public attention, journalists, civil society organizations, election observers, and civic technology platforms are also working behind the scenes to monitor the process and promote transparency.
My first two days in Osun have therefore presented two sides of the state ahead of the election.
There are concerns about violence, voter suppression, and the security of the electoral process. At the same time, businesses are open, markets are functioning, transport operators are moving, and residents are continuing with their daily activities.
As Osun moves closer to election day, the question now is whether the calm and normalcy observed across many communities will continue when voters begin to arrive at polling units.
For now, Osun remains active, businesses continue, political interest is high, and the state waits for Saturday’s election.
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