Osun 2026: Stakeholders Seek Data, Voter Education To Curb Youth Apathy

Stakeholders at a youth-focused electoral engagement in Osun State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, tertiary institutions and media houses to intensify voter education and provide reliable electoral data to tackle youth apathy and rising invalid votes.

The stakeholders made the call at an engagement on “Youth and Election Nexus Ahead of the 2026 Osun State Gubernatorial Election,” convened by Broad-Focus for Community Development (BFCD) in Osogbo on Friday, July 24, 2026.

Participants included representatives of INEC, civil society and community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, youth groups and development practitioners.

In a communique issued on Monday and obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, the participants expressed concern over the low level of youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, citing data from previous elections in Osun and Ekiti states, as well as the 2023 general elections.

The stakeholders also raised concern over the absence of age- and gender-disaggregated data on accredited voters on election day, noting that the gap makes it difficult to accurately assess and analyse youth participation in elections.

They further expressed concern over the rising number of invalid votes, particularly those recorded during the 2018 Osun governorship election, stressing the need for intensified voter education ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

According to the communique, participants attributed youth voter apathy to inadequate civic and political education, poor understanding of electoral processes, insecurity, economic hardship and the large population of students in tertiary institutions across the state.

The forum also noted that some residents who registered to vote in Osun but are originally from other states often travel to their home states during election periods, particularly when election day is declared a public holiday, thereby reducing voter turnout in the state.

To address the challenges, the stakeholders urged INEC to publish age-disaggregated accreditation statistics during elections to facilitate evidence-based assessment of youth participation.

They also called on the electoral body to strengthen voter education initiatives in partnership with civil society organisations, support research and improve access to electoral data while sustaining partnerships aimed at ensuring free, fair, inclusive and credible elections.

The stakeholders urged CSOs to expand voter education programmes across communities, intensify advocacy for youth participation before, during and after elections, strengthen collaboration with educational institutions through sustained outreach programmes and develop innovative civic engagement strategies to tackle voter apathy.

They further called on authorities of secondary and tertiary institutions to introduce regular school-based voter education programmes to build civic consciousness among young people before they attain voting age.

The forum also advocated continuous civic education through the integration of democratic values and electoral literacy into youth development programmes, while encouraging educational institutions to collaborate with CSOs in providing platforms for voter sensitisation.

Media organisations, the stakeholders said, should increase public awareness about youth inclusion in democratic processes and decision-making, while strengthening advocacy against vote buying, voter apathy and electoral violence through sustained public sensitisation.

They also urged the media to promote objective and responsible reporting and intensify efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation, particularly during electioneering periods.

The communique, which was submitted to the INEC headquarters in Osogbo on Monday, was signed by Miss Goodness Adebayo, Programme Manager and Chairperson of the Drafting Committee; Mr Arinola Peter and Adepeju Adebayo, members of the Drafting Committee; Mr Vincent Enike, Executive Director, Broad-Focus for Community Development; and Mr Festus Ojewumi, Executive Director, Providence Consulting, on behalf of the participants.