Former Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mike Igini, has alleged that politicians have begun lobbying university professors and officials of federal agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Igini made the allegation while speaking at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue on Thursday.

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It said it deployed observers across the 30 local government areas of the state to monitor developments ahead of the poll.

“The organisation observed an increase in registered voters following the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, describing the development as an indication of growing civic interest and participation.

“Registered voters in Osun increased from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233, representing an addition of about 384,000 registered voters,” parts of the report read.

However, the Centre said the improved mobilisation of voters is being threatened by political tension, hate speech, electoral violence and concerns over the reliability of election technology.

It said its observers monitored INEC’s mock accreditation exercise across 12 local government areas covering the three senatorial districts.

The organisation alleged that some BVAS devices experienced technical difficulties, including failures to recognise voters’ fingerprints, facial features and Permanent Voter Card details.

“These challenges, if not urgently addressed, could undermine confidence in the electoral process,” the Centre said.

The group urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to urgently resolve the reported technical problems and ensure that BVAS devices function effectively during Saturday’s poll.

It also called on the electoral commission to “maintain and demonstrate strict neutrality throughout the electoral process”.

The organisation claimed that about 40 people had been killed in pre-election-related violence across Osun State.

It expressed concern over what it described as increasingly inflammatory political campaigns, saying political engagements had shifted from issue-based discussions to personal attacks and insults.

The Centre also made allegations against Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, accusing him of making inflammatory statements and allegedly mobilising thugs and individuals purportedly posing as security personnel ahead of the election.

It alleged that Fadahunsi was captured in a video “inciting members of his party against Accord members and supporters in Ijeshaland”

“Thugs and individuals impersonating police officers had been brought into communities across Obokun, Oriade, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West Local Government Areas and Senator Fadahunsi boasted about using federal might to intimidate opposition voters,” it added.

The Centre claimed that security personnel attached to the Police Intelligence Response Team had been used to harass opposition political actors.

It alleged that an Accord House of Representatives candidate, Alaba Popoola, had been unlawfully detained.

The organisation called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to investigate the allegations and prosecute anyone found to have committed criminal offences.

It also demanded increased security deployment across the six local government areas in Ijeshaland and urged security agencies to investigate the alleged activities of the IRT in Osun.

The Centre urged political leaders to moderate their rhetoric and avoid statements capable of escalating tensions ahead of Saturday’s election, stressing that the poll should be determined by voters through the ballot.

“The August 15, 2026, governorship election must be a contest of ballots, not bullets. The protection of lives and property before, during and after the election remained non-negotiable,” it concluded.

Addressing journalists, the duo of Dr. Asmau Maikudi, Chair, 2026 Osun Election Observation Mission and Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, said the election would be a major test for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC, and the resilience of voters.

Yiaga Africa, through its Watching the Vote, WTV, initiative, said the poll would also provide an early assessment of innovations introduced under the Electoral Act 2026, including downloadable Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and electronic management of polling-unit results.

“INEC has made progress with preparations across the state, including voter registration activities, recruitment and training of officials, BVAS configuration, mock accreditation and stakeholder engagement,” Yiaga Africa said.

INEC is expected to conduct the election across 3,763 polling units in 30 Local Government Areas, using 4,427 BVAS devices, with 2,339,233 registered voters eligible to participate.

However, Yiaga Africa said technical challenges recorded during mock accreditation remain a concern.

It warned that some BVAS devices temporarily failed to recognise voters’ fingerprints, facial features and older PVC records.

“Unresolved failures could cause delays and disenfranchisement, Yiaga Africa added.

The organisation also expressed concern over the late inclusion of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, following a Federal High Court judgment.

It said the resulting reprinting of ballot papers and result sheets had compressed INEC’s deployment timetable.

“The revised election materials are expected to arrive in Osun on August 13 for distribution to the 30 local government areas. INEC should activate contingency logistics arrangements to prevent delays and ensure that all materials reach polling units before voting begins,” the statement added.

On security, the organisation called on security agencies to maintain strict neutrality and professionalism, stressing that personnel must respect the rights of voters, accredited observers and media practitioners to freedom of movement on Election Day.

It urged security agencies to coordinate effectively with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to tackle vote-buying and other electoral offences, while ensuring that arrests and enforcement were conducted impartially.

Yiaga Africa also called on political parties and candidates to honour the Peace Accord, refrain from vote-buying and inflammatory rhetoric, and urge their supporters to remain peaceful.

It encouraged civil society organisations to intensify voter education and urged citizens to reject attempts to buy their votes.

The organisation said it would deploy 300 stationary observers and 32 mobile observers across all 30 local government areas under its Process and Results Verification for Transparency methodology.

“We will use ERAD 2.0 to independently monitor results uploaded to INEC’s IReV portal, assess the availability and completeness of result sheets, and provide evidence-based verification of the electoral process,” it added.