The team of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) a democracy, governance and civic technology organisation will on Thursday arrive Osun State on Thursday in preparation for the monitoring of the governorship election.
Penpushing reports that the team led by Associate Professor and Board Chair, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi comprises Abutu Yaro(Retired Assistant Inspector General) (Rtd.), former Deputy Inspector-General of Police and election security expert; Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, former Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Deputy Secretary and electoral administration specialist; Prof. Ernest Uchenna Ereke, Professor of Political Science and specialist in democracy, governance and political analysis; Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, senior broadcast journalist and media accountability expert; Vimbai Mutinhiri-Ekpenyong, Pan-African broadcaster and political communications professional; and Babalola Olusola, public policy analyst and veteran election observer with experience across more than 30 election observation missions.
The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has deployed 389 observers and operational personnel which include Penpushing Media to effectively monitor the election scheduled for Saturday August 15, 2026.
Penpushing further reports that the team will be available at all local government areas across the state to independently monitor the electoral process and provide credible, evidence-based assessments of the conduct of the poll.
The team will commence operations, with election day data room and remain operational through the immediate post-election period, with national and international experts drawn from electoral administration, election security, democratic governance, public policy, media, political analysis and research.
Penpushing also reports that the mission is designed to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process, promote transparency and contribute to the protection of electoral integrity in Osun State’, the statement added.
The organization equally announced a series of public engagements to keep citizens, media and other stakeholders informed throughout the electoral process, and these include an election day media briefing at 1:00 p.m. on August 15, a close of polls updates at 6:00 p.m. on August 15, and a preliminary statement at 11:00 a.m. on August 16, 2026
Penpushing reports that the organization’s mission observation will be guided by the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, inclusion, accuracy, non-interference and the “do no harm” principle.
The organization called on political parties, candidates, security agencies, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, media, civil society organizations and citizens to conduct themselves responsibly.
Penpushing further reports that the body encouraged them to contribute to a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process, and equally urged all political actors and their supporters to respect the rights of voters, refrain from violence, intimidation.
The Associate Professor explained that the deployment reflects the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that citizens and stakeholders have access to credible and independently verified information on the conduct of the election.
“Our responsibility as election observers is not to determine the outcome of the election, but to independently observe, document and provide credible evidence on the electoral process.We are committed to ensuring that our findings are based on facts, verified information and the highest standards of professional election observation’, she stated. ,
Penpushing also reports that she assured that the mission will maintain a statewide presence across all 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,763 polling units, with observers monitoring key aspects of the electoral process, including polling procedures, electoral security, information integrity, election finance, technology deployment, voter participation and results management.
‘At the heart of the mission is KDI’s Election Day Data Room (EDDR), a secure and non-partisan information hub that will receive observer reports, conduct quality assurance and verification, maintain an auditable evidence register, monitor incidents, analyze trends, and produce verified public information throughout the election period’.
Penpushing reports that the facility will support the mission in ensuring that information received from the field is subjected to quality assurance and verification before being used in public reporting’.
The team leader added that the organization will neither administer the election nor certify its outcome, investigate electoral offences, direct security operations, or endorse any political party or candidate.
Penpushing further reports that she emphasized that all findings, assessments and public statements issued by the mission will be based exclusively on independently gathered, verified and documented evidence.
The Board Chair pointed out that every vote must be treated with dignity, every electoral procedure must be conducted transparently, and every institution involved in the process must act in a manner that strengthens public confidence.
Penpushing also reports that the human rights activist stated that the role of the team is to observe without interference, document without bias, and report based on evidence, noting that Osun state election provides another important opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and called on all stakeholders to protect the integrity of the process through peaceful participation, professionalism, transparency and respect for the rule of law.
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