The Tap Initiative for Citizens’ Development has deployed its citizen-led election monitoring platform, iReportINEC, for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, with more than 20 per cent of polling units already covered ahead of the poll.

The civil society organisation also appointed renowned actress and activist, Kate Henshaw, as the platform’s ambassador, in a move aimed at expanding citizen participation and strengthening public reporting of electoral incidents.

The organisation said iReportINEC was designed to enable citizens to document and report electoral incidents in real time, providing independent eyewitness accounts that could contribute to greater transparency and accountability throughout the electoral process.

The deployment comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State ahead of the governorship election.

In a statement, Executive Director of Tap Initiative, Martin Obono, said the essence of the platform was to ensure that citizens remained engaged beyond casting their ballots.

According to him, “Democracy does not end with casting a vote. Citizens must also be able to see, document and demand accountability for what happens throughout the electoral process.

“For Tap Initiative, the message is simple: witness the vote, document what happens. Report responsibly, strengthen electoral accountability.”

Obono said the appointment of Henshaw was strategic, given her public profile and longstanding advocacy for civic participation.

“Kate Henshaw brings public trust, civic consciousness and a strong commitment to citizen participation. Her voice will help us take iReportINEC to millions of Nigerians,” he said.

Accepting the appointment, Henshaw said she was honoured to serve as the platform’s ambassador, stressing that citizens had a responsibility to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

“Democracy belongs to all of us, and our responsibility does not end when we cast our votes. Citizens must pay attention, document what they witness and demand accountability,” she said.

Henshaw said iReportINEC would give Nigerians the opportunity to become active witnesses to elections, particularly through responsible use of technology.

“I am particularly excited about encouraging young Nigerians to take ownership of their democracy and use technology responsibly to protect the integrity of our elections,” she added.

The actress has previously used her public platform to promote voter participation, civic engagement and accountability.

Her experience during the 2023 general elections, when she publicly raised concerns over voter accreditation at her polling unit, has also been cited by the organisation as an example of the importance of documenting citizens’ experiences during elections.

As ambassador, Henshaw is expected to support public awareness campaigns and encourage Nigerians, especially young voters, to use iReportINEC to document electoral incidents responsibly.

Tap Initiative said the Osun deployment was part of a broader strategy to position iReportINEC for the 2027 general elections.

The organisation said its long-term plan was to establish a nationwide citizen-monitoring network covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, using technology to expand the capacity of citizens to observe, document and report developments during elections.

The initiative is expected to provide a wider pool of citizen-generated information on electoral processes while encouraging responsible reporting and strengthening demands for accountability.