The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the relatively seamless conduct of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, particularly the absence of major technical glitches in most locations and the real-time uploading of polling-unit results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

The group also praised Osun voters for their resilience, peaceful participation and determination to exercise their democratic rights despite reported cases of vote buying, intimidation, harassment and attempts to suppress voters.

In a statement signed by TMG Chairman and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the group said the election demonstrated that Nigeria’s electoral process can improve when technology and established procedures function effectively.

TMG said the smooth conduct and timely electronic transmission of results showed that INEC, under Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, is capable of delivering a more transparent and credible electoral process.

It urged Nigerians to commend the commission where it performs well while continuing to demand accountability and improvement where necessary.

The group cautioned against blaming INEC for every electoral malpractice, noting that vote buying, intimidation, thuggery and other forms of manipulation are largely perpetrated by politicians and their agents. It called for those responsible to be held accountable.

TMG said the Osun election, alongside recent governorship elections in Anambra, Ondo, Edo and Ekiti states, provides encouraging evidence that peaceful and credible elections are possible when the will of voters is respected.

It urged candidates and political parties to accept the outcome and pursue legitimate grievances through established legal channels.

The group also called on the judiciary to protect genuine mandates freely given by voters, warning against the use of technicalities, procedural manipulation or politically motivated litigation to overturn the legitimate choice of the electorate. It stressed that electoral litigation should strengthen, rather than undermine, the sanctity of the ballot.

TMG urged political parties to move away from politics driven by violence, vote buying, religious and ethnic mobilisation and empty slogans, and instead compete on the basis of character, competence, credible programmes, track records and solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the group called on Nigerians to safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards, ensure prompt accreditation and turn out to vote without selling their votes.

It urged voters to assess candidates based on their character, competence, records, teams and policy priorities rather than religion, ethnicity, region, party loyalty or political slogans.

TMG specifically urged voters to scrutinise candidates’ commitment to security, improved living conditions, anti-corruption, human rights and stronger democratic institutions.

The group called on INEC to build on the Osun experience by further improving election technology, logistics, voter accreditation, results transmission and public communication. It also urged security, law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies to intensify efforts against vote buying, intimidation, thuggery and other electoral offences.

TMG reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring Nigeria’s electoral processes and promoting credible, peaceful, transparent and accountable elections, stressing that the Osun experience should strengthen public confidence that credible elections are possible.

It urged Nigerians to recognise genuine progress, demand continuous improvement and, most importantly, protect the power of the ballot by ensuring that every vote counts and every mandate freely given by the people is respected.