The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has established the deployment of security agencies at the just concluded Osun State Governorship election as laudable which contributed meaningfully to the success of the poll.
Penpushing reports that Executive Director, Bukola Idowu Kimpact Development Initiative(KDI) made this known at a Post-Election Statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
The Executive Director explained that the organisations’s observers generally reported that in the most cases, security personnel discharged their responsibilities professionally and contributed to maintaining order at polling locations.
Penpushing further reports that Idowu pointed out that the security operatives exhibited professionalism, stressing that owing to the heightened cases of pre-election violence, the huge deployment of security personnel can be seen as a proactive response.
‘In all polling units observed by KDI, security personnel were deployed, with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps being the most prominently reported agencies’, he added.
Penpushing also reports that he said Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) established a dedicated Election Day Data Room (EDDR) to coordinate, verify and analyse reports from its accredited election observers deployed across the state.
‘The EDDR served as the central coordination and analysis hub for receiving real-time field reports and monitoring developments across election administration, technology performance, voter access, political conduct, voter inducement, security and other election-related incidents’, he sttaed.
Penpushing reports that Idowu stated that for the election, the body deployed 370 trained and accredited observers across all 30 Local Government Areas, 332 wards and 1,660 polling units in Osun State.
‘The team comprised 332 stationary observers assigned to specific polling units, 30 roving observers covering designated clusters of polling units, and 8 faculty members providing senior-level oversight and independent analysis of field reports’, he added.
Penpushing further reports that the organization equally commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for completing the distribution process and preventing the incident from causing a wider disruption to the election, However, noted that the episode highlights the operational challenges that late changes to the ballot can create for election administrators.
The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), emphasized that electoral institutions need sufficient certainty and lead time to produce, distribute and verify sensitive materials, as well as to coordinate personnel and logistics.
The Director added that the body was deeply concerned about the use of e-EC8A in an election because its legal status remains unknown under the Electoral Act 2026 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
‘The INEC Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of Election 2026 introduced an electronic Form EC8A that performs an additional validation function before transmission of the physical EC8A’.
‘The legal relationship between these two records is unknown. Greater legal clarity is required to prevent uncertainty during election petitions and post-election audits. The 82 PUs in which accredited voters exceeded votes accounted for require particular attention. This discrepancy is particularly concerning given the simultaneous accreditation and voting system currently in use’, it stated.
Penpushing also reports that the body made some recommendations to the electoral body which include improve election-day operational preparedness, including BVAS functionality and technical support, to reduce delays and prevent elderly voters from being disenfranchised by accreditation challenges.
‘The Commission should improve its crisis communication, especially around result management and IReV, particularly during upload interruptions, by providing timely and clear information to stakeholders to reduce uncertainty, misinformation and avoidable public anxiety. Clarify e-EC8A validation rules and the reconciliation path for conflicting result records’
Penpushing reports that it recommended that security agencies should strengthen pre-election conflict prevention and early-warning mechanisms to address political tensions and localised flashpoints before election day, thereby reducing the need for extensive security deployments during elections.
‘Ensure the prompt investigation and prosecution of individuals arrested for election-related offences, with transparent follow-up on cases to strengthen accountability, deter electoral violence and reinforce public confidence in the enforcement of electoral laws’.
‘Publish or communicate appropriate information on arrests and case progression, subject to legal and investigative requirements, to strengthen public confidence in electoral accountability. Security operations should be continued in the immediate period after elections to forestall possible post-election violence’.
Penpushing further reports that it added that political parties and candidates should promote issue-based political competition and responsible campaign conduct that reduces political tension before and during elections.
‘Pursue alternative dispute resolution for pre-election disputes or the election petition tribunal within available legal timelines. Deploy properly trained agents who understand the entire process.
Penpushing also reports that on civil society organisations and development partners, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) identified need to develop a year-round voter mobilisation plan and build on Osun’s state one-million-vote participation milestone
‘Strengthen civic accountability platforms that promote transparency and public oversight, particularly around election results and the conduct of electoral institutions. Support early-warning, conflict-prevention and peacebuilding initiatives that address political tensions before they develop into election-day security threats’.
‘Push for legal reforms to establish a timeline for pre-election matters, and it should terminate at a certain time before the election to avoid any potential implications for INEC procurement and logistics’.
Penpushing reports that body encouraged media to avoid amplifying unverified claims, inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation capable of escalating political tensions, and use their platforms to improve public understanding of electoral procedures, result management and lawful dispute-resolution mechanisms.
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