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

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is stepping up preparations for the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, calling for enhanced voter education and inclusivity initiatives to address voter apathy across the state. In a post shared on its X handle on Monday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin O. Babalola, stressed the importance of these measures during a Joint Implementation Meeting of the Voter Education & Publicity and Gender & Inclusivity departments in Osogbo.

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Election is a process, not an event.

Babalola highlighted the continuous nature of civic engagement, stating, “Election is a process, not an event.” She cautioned that a failure to sustain voter education efforts could weaken participation in the democratic process. Despite improvements in electoral administration, voter apathy remains a major concern, fueled by misinformation, distrust in the system, political disengagement, and insufficient access to reliable electoral information. Babalola emphasized, “Citizens must understand not only when elections will hold but also why their participation matters.”

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Citizens must understand not only when elections will hold but also why their participation matters.

She advocated for voter education to extend beyond mere announcements to active engagement at the grassroots level. Babalola urged Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to intensify community outreach, including visits to markets, motor parks, schools, and religious centers. Collaboration with traditional and religious leaders is also crucial to deepen voter awareness. On inclusivity, she underscored its central role in democratic participation, stating, “Inclusivity is not merely a policy objective but a democratic imperative.” Officials were instructed to ensure that women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities are not excluded from electoral processes.

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Inclusivity is not merely a policy objective but a democratic imperative.

Furthermore, Babalola directed officials to identify communities with historically low voter turnout and develop targeted engagement strategies to boost participation. Reiterating INEC’s commitment, she affirmed, “Every eligible voter must know why voting matters, how to vote correctly, where to vote, and when to vote.” The commission remains focused on building trust and encouraging broader participation ahead of the upcoming governorship election in Osun State.

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Every eligible voter must know why voting matters, how to vote correctly, where to vote, and when to vote.