ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Kukah Centre, a policy research institute, has described the August 15 governorship election in Osun as a critical moment for Nigeria’s democracy.
The centre’s Senior Programme Manager, Esrom Ajanaya, stated this during a stakeholders’ validation forum on Tuesday in Osogbo on the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The forum was organised to review and validate key findings from the Context Analysis and Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) ahead of the election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was held in collaboration with the National Peace Committee (NPC), with support from the European Union (EU).
Ajanaya said the gubernatorial election is more than a state-level exercise, describing it as a precursor to the 2027 general elections.
“The 2026 gubernatorial election is more than a state-level exercise.
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“It is a defining test of our collective commitment to democratic integrity and a precursor to the 2027 general elections,” he said.
Ajanaya noted that while assessments of the electoral process ahead of the election show measurable compliance with procedures, deeper structural challenges remain.
He said the CAR findings indicate persistent issues in internal party democracy, with candidate selection processes largely influenced by elite negotiations.
Ajanaya added that the report also highlights limited inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, alongside concerns about transparency and accountability.
He emphasised that the identified risks require deliberate and coordinated responses from all stakeholders.
“The risks we have identified, from unresolved local government issues to patterns of political mobilisation and security concerns, are not insurmountable.
“However, they require deliberate, coordinated, and timely action,” he said.
Ajanaya further stated that the NPC and the Kukah Centre would continue to work with stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, credible, and inclusive election in the state.
Participants at the forum resolved to translate analysis into action through practical measures to mitigate risks, strengthen institutional performance, and promote peaceful civic participation across the state.
They also stressed the importance of early preventive measures, noting that electoral violence is often rooted in unresolved institutional and political issues.
NAN reports that the forum brought together representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and the media.
NAN.