When will Nigerians be able to exercise their franchise without fear?

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

The conduct of elections in Nigeria continues to raise serious concerns that extend well beyond the credibility of ballot counts.

Increasingly, the physical safety of voters, journalists, and electoral officials serves as a crucial barometer of the nation’s democratic health.

The recent Osun State governorship election brought this vulnerability into sharp relief following widespread reports of assaults and voter intimidation.

While polling proceeded across the state with thousands turning out, recurring violence cast a long shadow over citizens’ ability to exercise their constitutional rights freely.

High-profile disruptions underscored the precarious environment on the ground. At Gantry Sawmill in Ikire I, Irewole Local Government Area, the polling unit of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, TheCable journalist Ayodele Oluwafemi was assaulted while documenting extended voting under makeshift generator lighting.

Despite presenting his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) credentials, Oluwafemi was attacked and had his accreditation seized before police intervened. Elsewhere, gunfire and unrest caused mass panic at Aregbe Park, forcing bystanders to flee.

These incidents expose a fundamental flaw in the electoral landscape: a constitutional right to vote means little if the journey to the ballot box carries personal peril. Electoral violence inflicts damage far beyond immediate casualties. When citizens witness or hear reports of violence, voter apathy hardens and faith in democratic institutions erodes, particularly among young Nigerians already skeptical of the political process.

Targeting the press compounds the democratic deficit. Journalists do not operate as partisan actors; they provide the vital transparency needed to hold institutions accountable. Attacking reporters blinds the public to the reality of the electoral process and shields misconduct from scrutiny.

Securing elections requires moving past reactive measures and last-minute troop deployments. Political parties must abandon the dangerous mindset that power justifies intimidation, while security agencies and INEC must prioritize intelligence-led prevention, secure flashpoints in advance, and impartially prosecute offenders.

The true measure of a successful election lies not merely in the declaration of a winner, but in whether citizens and observers can participate, observe, and return home entirely unscathed. Democratic choices must never require citizens to risk their lives.