The Independent National Electoral Commission has stepped up preparations for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, with a renewed warning that voter apathy could undermine the credibility of the exercise if not urgently addressed.

At a Joint Implementation Meeting of the Voter Education and Publicity, and Gender and Inclusivity departments in Osogbo, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, underscored the need for sustained civic engagement rather than last-minute mobilisation.

Describing elections as a process rather than a one-day event, Babalola cautioned that neglecting continuous voter education would weaken citizens’ participation and deepen distrust in the system. She linked persistent voter apathy to misinformation, political disillusionment, and poor access to reliable electoral information, stressing that citizens must clearly understand not only when elections will hold but why their participation is critical to governance.

The REC directed Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to move beyond traditional publicity and embrace intensive grassroots outreach. She listed markets, motor parks, schools, and religious centres as priority locations for engagement, adding that collaboration with traditional rulers and faith leaders would be vital in rebuilding confidence in the electoral process.

Babalola also placed inclusivity at the centre of INEC’s strategy, insisting that no segment of society should be left behind. She described inclusivity as a democratic imperative, urging officials to design and implement programmes that deliberately accommodate women, young people, the elderly, and Persons with Disabilities at every stage of the electoral cycle.

As part of the preparations for Osun 2026, officials were instructed to map communities with historically low turnout and develop targeted interventions to reverse the trend. Such interventions, she said, should focus on practical information: why voting matters, how to mark the ballot correctly, where polling units are located, and what to expect on election day.

Babalola reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to transparent and credible polls in Osun, noting that building trust would depend on how well the commission communicates with voters before, during, and after the election. She maintained that every eligible voter must feel informed, included, and confident that their ballot will count in determining the state’s next leadership.