Yiaga Africa deploys stationary, roving observers for 2026 Osun governorship election

An election observation group, Yiaga Africa, said the organisation will deploy 300 stationary observers and 32 roving observers across the 30 local government areas of Osun state for the August 15 governorship election.

The Head of Knowledge Management and Learning at Yiaga Africa, Safiya Bichi, disclosed this in Osogbo, Tuesday, during a Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media engagement ahead of the election.

She explained that the deployment would use Yiaga Africa’s Sample-Based Observation (SBO) methodology, with observers stationed at sampled polling units to independently verify the credibility of the process and confirm whether votes cast match the results declared by INEC.

Bichi noted that Yiaga Africa’s pre-election assessment identified emerging trends, particularly security-related incidents that could affect how the election is conducted.

Meanwhile, a Board member of Yiaga Africa, Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu,

has raised concerns about alleged voter inducement and growing tension ahead of the election, warning that such practices could harm the credibility of the poll.

He identified voter inducement as a major challenge, alleging that reports have emerged of cash transfers of about N10,000 to prospective voters.

He argued that even if such payments are framed as “philanthropic gifts,” they can corrupt the electoral process and make the election less credible.

Nwagwu also warned that political violence issues, described as recurring, should worry stakeholders.

He urged Osun voters and stakeholders to work collectively to prevent violence, stating that voters must “conduct themselves peacefully,” while INEC should ensure voter education reaches the people across the state.