Blessing Bello, Reporting
WITH just over a month until the August 15, 2026, gubernatorial election, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a stern call to residents of Osun State, urging them to shun voter apathy, reject financial inducements, and embrace peaceful participation in the upcoming poll.
The Director-General of the agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by Zonal Director Kehinde Ogunkuade, made the appeal during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting organised by the Osun State Directorate of the NOA in Osogbo on Tuesday.
The agency’s nationwide voter sensitisation campaign, he explained, was designed to promote active civic participation while actively discouraging vote buying and election-related violence.
Mr Ogunkuade lamented that voter apathy continues to pose a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy, noting that many eligible voters have grown disillusioned and now believe their votes do not count.
“Democracy can only thrive when citizens actively participate in the electoral process. Unfortunately, voter apathy has continued to undermine democratic development in our country,” he said.
“Many citizens have become discouraged and now believe their votes do not count. Some others have lost confidence in governance and therefore choose to stay away from elections. We must collectively reject this attitude.”
The NOA director emphasised that voting is not merely a political activity but a civic duty and a patriotic responsibility.
“The future of our communities, our state, and our democracy depends on the choices we make at the polls,” he added.
Addressing the pervasive issue of vote buying, Mr Ogunkuade cautioned citizens against trading their franchise for temporary financial gains.
“Citizens must understand that the temporary financial gains from vote selling cannot compare with the long-term consequences of bad governance, poor infrastructure, unemployment, insecurity, and lack of social services,” he warned.
“We must resist all attempts by politicians or their agents to compromise our conscience and dignity through inducement. Democracy loses its value when votes become commodities for sale.”
The town hall meeting, which drew participants from across the state, forms part of the NOA’s broader strategy to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that the forthcoming election reflects the genuine will of the people.
Stakeholders at the event commended the agency’s efforts and called for sustained public enlightenment campaigns, particularly in rural communities where voter education remains limited.
