OSUN DECIDES: LET THE BALLOT SPEAK, NOT VIOLENCE
By Noah Ajare, Esq.
Tomorrow, the people of Osun State will once again have the opportunity to determine, through the ballot, who will lead them for the next chapter of the State’s political journey. As the State of the Living Spring approaches the polls, the responsibility before every voter is greater than the excitement of an election day. It is the responsibility to preserve peace, protect the sanctity of the ballot and, above all, remember that political power in a democracy derives its legitimacy from the free will of the people.
An election is a contest for public trust. It should therefore never become a contest of fists, weapons, threats or inducements.
Osun has a proud political history and a people known for their political consciousness. The forthcoming election should consequently be an occasion for the people to demonstrate that political disagreement does not have to produce violence and that competition for public office can be vigorous without becoming destructive.
As the Yoruba proverb reminds us, “Ìjà ò dára; àlàáfíà ni ohun tí a ń wá” meaning conflict is not desirable; what we seek is peace. The ballot box should be the arena of our political contest, not the street.
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE
The power of the voter lies not in the money offered by a politician, nor in the intimidation of a political thug, but in the freedom to make an independent choice at the polling unit.
The Electoral Act, 2026 recognises the importance of that freedom and imposes criminal sanctions against conduct capable of corrupting it. Section 125 criminalises bribery and related electoral inducements. The provision covers, among other things, giving or promising money or other valuable consideration to influence a person’s vote, as well as receiving money or valuable consideration in exchange for voting or refraining from voting. Depending on the particular conduct involved, the punishment includes substantial fines and imprisonment.
To the voter who is offered money in exchange for a vote, therefore, the question should not simply be, “How much am I being offered?” The better question is, “What is the value of my vote, and what kind of government will that bargain produce?”
A few thousand naira may disappear within days. The consequences of participating in electoral bribery may last considerably longer.
The law equally recognises that inducement does not have to be a direct transaction at the polling unit before it becomes unlawful. Section 131 of the Electoral Act, 2026 criminalises undue influence where money is corruptly provided or accepted for the purpose of influencing a person’s decision to vote or refrain from voting.
Do not sell your four-year future for a one-day benefit.
NO ONE SHOULD TURN YOU INTO A WEAPON
Political competition must never be an invitation to violence.
To the young people who may be approached by political actors and offered money to cause trouble, intimidate voters or disrupt the electoral process: remember that the person who sends you may not stand beside you when the consequences arrive.
The law does not excuse criminal conduct merely because it was allegedly committed at the instruction of another person.
Section 132 of the Electoral Act, 2026 criminalises the use or threat of force, violence or restraint to induce or compel a person to vote or refrain from voting. It also criminalises conduct involving abduction, duress or fraudulent devices designed to prevent the free exercise of a voter’s franchise. A person convicted under the provision is liable to a fine of up to ₦2,000,000 or imprisonment for up to three years.
Similarly, section 129 criminalises disorderly conduct at elections, including inciting others to act in a disorderly manner, with a maximum fine of ₦2,000,000 or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
There is therefore no wisdom in becoming the instrument through which another person’s political ambition destroys your own future.
When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Political disagreements between powerful individuals should never become the reason ordinary citizens lose their lives, property or liberty.
THE BALLOT BOX IS NOT A BATTLEGROUND
Election materials and election technology are protected by law.
Section 130 of the Electoral Act, 2026 prohibits a range of conduct on election day, including canvassing for votes, soliciting for votes, persuading voters, shouting election slogans, possessing offensive weapons or wearing anything calculated to intimidate voters, displaying party symbols and cards, using vehicles bearing party colours or symbols, and snatching or destroying election materials. These restrictions apply within a polling unit and within 300 metres of the polling unit.
More importantly, section 130(4) provides that a person who snatches or destroys election material or an election device commits an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of two years.
This is not a matter to be taken lightly.
Do not snatch a ballot box. Do not destroy election materials. Do not attack an INEC official. Do not intimidate another voter because that voter supports a different candidate. Do not allow the excitement of political rivalry to turn into an offence for which you may subsequently have to answer before a court.
KEEP YOUR CHOICE SECRET
A voter should be able to vote according to his or her conscience without fear of being watched, threatened or compelled to reveal the chosen candidate.
Section 126 of the Electoral Act, 2026 imposes a duty to maintain the secrecy of voting and prohibits interference with a voter for the purpose of discovering the candidate for whom that voter intends to vote or has voted.
The significance is simple: your vote belongs to you.
Nobody has a legal right to force you to disclose who you voted for. Nobody should photograph your ballot to prove how you voted. Nobody should stand over you in the voting compartment to dictate your choice.
The secret ballot exists to protect the independence of the voter.
KNOW THE RULES BEFORE YOU ENTER THE POLLING UNIT
The Electoral Act, 2026 provides that an intending voter should present himself or herself at the polling unit in the constituency where the voter’s name is registered and provide a Permanent Voter’s Card. Section 47(2) further provides for the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) or another technological device prescribed by INEC for voter accreditation.
Voting is conducted through an open secret ballot under section 50. The voter marks the ballot in the manner prescribed by the Commission and deposits the ballot in the ballot box in the open view of persons present.
On election day, therefore:
- Go to the polling unit where you are registered.
- Follow the instructions of the INEC officials.
- Queue peacefully and allow the process to take its proper course.
- Present your PVC and undergo the required accreditation.
- Mark your ballot according to the instructions given.
- Do not allow anyone to dictate your choice.
- Maintain the secrecy of your vote.
- Deposit your ballot properly.
- After voting, conduct yourself peacefully and avoid unnecessary loitering or confrontation.
INEC’s voter guidance similarly directs voters to queue at their polling units, undergo accreditation, mark their preferred candidate and deposit the ballot in the ballot box before leaving or remaining peacefully to observe the process.
OSUN MUST CHOOSE PEACE
Political parties will come and go. Candidates will contest and concede or challenge results in accordance with the law. Political offices are temporary; the people and the State remain.
No election is worth the life of a single Osun citizen.
No political ambition is worth the destruction of a family.
No political disagreement is worth turning neighbours into enemies.
The outcome of an election may determine who occupies a public office, but how we conduct the election determines something even more important: the kind of society we leave behind for those who come after us.
Osun has the opportunity to show that political passion and peaceful conduct can coexist; that citizens can disagree without becoming enemies; and that the ballot can settle political questions better than violence ever can.
To every voter: go to the polls with courage, vote according to your conscience and respect the choices of others.
To every political party and candidate: compete vigorously, but within the bounds of the law.
To every young person who may be tempted to participate in electoral violence: do not allow anybody to use your youth as a weapon against your own future.
And to every citizen of Osun State: your vote is not a commodity, your neighbour is not your enemy, and the polling unit is not a battlefield.
Let the people speak.
Let the ballot decide.
Let the law prevail.
And when the votes are counted, let Osun remain standing peaceful, united and proud.
Noah Ajare, Esq.
Noah AJARE & Co(victory Chambers)
noahajare@gmail.com
www.noahajare.com