Osun 2026: INEC cautions against voter apathy, pushes grassroots education

The Independent National Electoral Commission has intensified preparations for the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, calling for stronger voter education, inclusivity, and renewed efforts to tackle voter apathy across the state.

In a post shared on its X handle on Monday, the charge was given by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin O. Babalola, during a Joint Implementation Meeting of the Voter Education & Publicity and Gender & Inclusivity departments held on Monday in Osogbo.

Describing the importance of continuous civic engagement, Babalola said, “Election is a process, not an event.”

She warned that failure to sustain voter education efforts could weaken participation in the democratic process.

She noted that despite improvements in electoral administration, voter apathy remains a major concern, driven by misinformation, distrust in the system, political disengagement, and lack of adequate access to reliable electoral information.

According to her, “Citizens must understand not only when elections will hold but also why their participation matters.”

She stressed that voter education must go beyond announcements to active engagement at the grassroots.

Babalola tasked Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to intensify community outreach, including visits to markets, motor parks, schools, and religious centres, while also working closely with traditional and religious leaders to deepen voter awareness.

On the issue of inclusivity, she stated that it is central to democratic participation. “Inclusivity is not merely a policy objective but a democratic imperative,” she said, urging officials to ensure women, youths, elderly persons, and Persons with Disabilities are not excluded from electoral processes.

She further instructed officials to identify communities with historically low voter turnout and develop targeted engagement strategies to improve participation.

Reiterating INEC’s commitment, Babalola said, “Every eligible voter must know why voting matters, how to vote correctly, where to vote, and when to vote.” She added that the Commission remains focused on building trust and encouraging broader participation ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.