Civil Society Coalition Convenes Osun Citizens’ Town Hall to Boost Confidence Ahead of Governorship Election
OSOGBO, Osun State — With just 21 days to the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity will host a Citizens’ Town Hall on Sunday, July 26, aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process.
The non-partisan dialogue, organised by a coalition comprising the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), and YIAGA Africa, will bring together key electoral stakeholders and citizens to discuss election preparedness and credible polls.
The event will take place from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Adolak Event Hall, Osogbo, with participation by invited guests. It will also be broadcast live on ARISE Television, NTA, AIT and the Osun State Broadcasting Service, while livestreams will be available on participating broadcasters’ YouTube channels, alongside coverage by radio, newspapers and digital media platforms.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs. Olutoyin Babalola, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, are expected to lead discussions on election preparedness and security. Representatives of women, persons with disabilities, traditional rulers and faith-based organisations will also participate.
According to the organisers, the Town Hall is designed to provide citizens with a direct platform to engage electoral officials, raise concerns, ask questions and make recommendations aimed at ensuring a transparent, peaceful and credible governorship election.
Chairman of the Planning Committee and Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, said the initiative demonstrates the Network’s commitment to strengthening electoral governance through inclusive citizen participation.
He noted that electoral integrity depends on informed citizens, transparent institutions and sustained collaboration among stakeholders, adding that the Town Hall would help reinforce public trust and collective accountability.
Co-Chair of the Planning Committee and Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, described citizen engagement as essential to safeguarding the credibility of elections.
He said the quality of elections is determined not only by the preparedness of institutions but also by the ability of citizens to engage meaningfully in the electoral process, stressing that the Town Hall would serve as an accountability platform between the electorate and election stakeholders.
The Osun Town Hall follows similar engagements organised by the Network, beginning with a national dialogue on the Electoral Act 2026 in Abuja and later in Ekiti State ahead of the June 20 governorship election. Organisers said the Osun edition is intended to consolidate those gains by promoting inclusive dialogue, institutional accountability and informed citizen participation.
The Civil Society Network on Election Integrity is a coalition of leading Nigerian civil society organisations committed to advancing peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections through advocacy, citizen engagement and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
