INEC Urged to Enhance Election Monitoring for 2027

Abideen Olasupo, representing the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, stresses the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure robust systems like IreV to prevent issues similar to those experienced in Osun during future elections. He highlights the dual importance of polling units and the information environment in determining election outcomes.

Olasupo notes that their initiative engaged various stakeholders to promote peace and successfully deployed the Election Violence Incident Tracker (EVIT.NG) to monitor threats, resulting in minimal violence during the Osun election. He points out that while Osun's voter turnout improved to 43%, it still fell short of the 54% recorded in 2014, with 1.3 million registered voters not participating.

Olasupo calls for increased civic vigilance and participation in elections, asserting that apathy does not lead to reform and that active involvement is crucial for ensuring votes are counted and protected.