Abuja: International Republican Institute (IRI) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the peaceful conduct of the August 15 governorship election in Osun, while also advocating for enhanced ballot secrecy to combat vote trading.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, IRI President Daniel Twinning, along with National Endowment for Democracy Board Member and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazer and IRI Regional Director for Africa, Jenai Cox, delivered the commendation during a news conference in Abuja. They presented the institute’s statement of findings and recommendations following its Election Assessment Mission to Nigeria.
The institute praised INEC for the timely distribution of revised electoral materials, which was necessitated by a court decision to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot. The successful reprinting and distribution of these materials were highlighted as commendable achievements.
However, IRI pointed out challenges associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), vote buying, security, and misinformation during the election. The institute noted significant occurrences of vote buying, attributing this to the highly competitive nature of the election.
The institute emphasized the importance of ballot secrecy to prevent vote buying. It stressed that voters should be able to cast their votes privately, without having to prove to sponsors how they voted. The IRI noted that while vote buying is a common issue in many developing countries, stronger ballot secrecy could mitigate its impact.
Additionally, the institute observed that polling stations were generally orderly, reflecting significant improvements compared to previous elections it has monitored since 1999. However, reliability issues with BVAS technology were identified as an area requiring urgent attention.
Jenai Cox, IRI Regional Director for Africa, called for updates to the BVAS technology, suggesting stress-testing and regular updates to ensure its reliability. Improved communication by INEC, especially when technical challenges arise, was also recommended.
The institute expressed concerns about disinformation, propaganda, and AI-generated content during the election, warning that false narratives could inflame tensions and undermine voter confidence. It urged political parties and candidates to refrain from producing or amplifying manipulated electoral materials.
IRI also highlighted the impact of political rhetoric on voter safety, urging electoral authorities and political parties to reject language that could discourage voting. It recommended stronger security coordination for the 2027 general elections, based on threat assessments.
Jendayi Frazer emphasized the need for pre-deployment of security personnel to high-risk areas, with adequate attention to their welfare and logistical needs. She called for collective efforts toward peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections.
The IRI, a non-profit organization founded in 1983, works globally to advance freedom, bolster democratic governance, support open elections, and encourage civic and political participation.