EDITORIAL: OSUN DECIDES, AUGUST 15, 2026: PEACE, POWER AND THE BURDEN OF DEMOCRATIC RESPONSIBILITY

OSUN DECIDES, AUGUST 15, 2026: PEACE, POWER AND THE BURDEN OF DEMOCRATIC RESPONSIBILITY

By: Dozie Nwankodu

As Osun State approaches another governorship election on Saturday, August 15, 2026, the atmosphere is marked less by the excitement of democratic participation and more by anxiety, suspicion and apprehension. Reports of political tension, fears of violence before and during the election, allegations of intimidation, and growing public concerns over the neutrality of electoral and security institutions have combined to make this contest a defining moment for the state and, indeed, for Nigeria’s democracy.

Elections are not merely contests for power; they are public rituals through which citizens renew the legitimacy of government. When the electorate begins to fear the process, democracy itself is weakened. The question before Osun is therefore not only who will win, but whether the people will be allowed to choose freely, peacefully and credibly.

The shadow of violence

Osun has witnessed episodes of political violence in the past, and the memory of those events still lingers. Every threatening statement, every show of force, and every act of intimidation deepens public distrust.

Political actors must understand that violence does not strengthen democracy; it delegitimises victory and plants the seeds of future instability.

Supporters of all parties should remember that political opponents are not enemies of the state. No election is worth the life of a citizen. The blood of even one voter is too costly a price for political ambition.

INEC and the burden of neutrality

At moments such as this, the Independent National Electoral Commission bears an extraordinary responsibility. Neutrality must not only exist; it must be visibly demonstrated. Transparency in logistics, timely communication, impartial conduct of officials, and strict adherence to electoral procedures are essential for public confidence.

Where citizens perceive bias, rumours flourish; where transparency is absent, conspiracy thrives. INEC must therefore rise above suspicion and act in a manner that reassures every voter that the ballot, not influence, will determine the outcome.

Security agencies must protect voters, not politicians

Security agencies are guardians of public order, not instruments of partisan power. Their duty is to protect polling units, electoral officials, journalists, observers and citizens exercising their constitutional rights. The deployment of security personnel should create confidence, not fear.

History judges security institutions harshly when they appear selective in enforcing the law. Professionalism, restraint and impartiality are indispensable if the election is to be peaceful and credible.

Power and democratic restraint

A recurring concern in Nigerian politics is the fear that those who control federal power may use state institutions to shape electoral outcomes. Whether such fears are justified or exaggerated, they are politically significant because public confidence in democracy depends heavily on the perception of fairness.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress have a historic opportunity to demonstrate democratic maturity.

True political strength is not measured by the ability to win at all costs; it is measured by the confidence to submit to a free and fair contest. Allowing the people of Osun to decide without intimidation would strengthen not only Osun’s democracy but the moral legitimacy of the federal government itself.

What the people of Osun must do

Citizens are not helpless spectators. Democracy survives when ordinary people act responsibly. Osun voters should:

>- vote peacefully and avoid confrontation;

>- reject inducement and political violence;

>- refuse to be used as thugs or agents of disruption;

>- verify information before sharing it;

>- report irregularities through lawful channels; and

>- remain at polling areas only as permitted by law and security guidelines.

The power of the vote is diminished when citizens surrender their judgment to fear, money or manipulation.

The morning after the election

The greatest test of democracy often begins after results are announced. Winners must celebrate with humility and avoid provocative triumphalism. Losers, if need be, should seek redress through constitutional and legal mechanisms rather than through violence. Religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, the media and community leaders must actively promote calm and reconciliation.

Osun cannot afford a post-election crisis that divides communities and damages its social fabric.

A final appeal

This election is bigger than parties, candidates or temporary political advantage. It is a test of whether democratic institutions can command public trust and whether political leaders can place peace above ambition.

To INEC: be impartial.

To security agencies: be professional.

To political parties: be responsible.

To President Tinubu and the APC: demonstrate democratic confidence by ensuring that no citizen feels coerced, intimidated or excluded from the process.

To the people of Osun: guard your peace, protect your vote and defend your democracy.

When history remembers this election, the most important question will not simply be who won. It will be whether Osun chose peace over violence, citizenship over partisanship, and democracy over desperation. That is the true burden of democratic responsibility, and it belongs to all of us.

Dozie Nwankodu is the Publisher / Editor-In-Chief,.Global Reporters(www.globalreporters.ng), and the Executive Director, Media Centre For Public Accountability And Transparency Advocacy (MCPATA)