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#OsunDecides2026: Former Electoral Officer Shares 15 Lessons, Warns Voters Against Election-Day Risks

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  Ajayi Folaranmi Richardson during his time serving as an electoral officer at a polling booth in Lagos By Victor Olubiye As voters in Osun State prepare to elect their next governor on Saturday, a former electoral officer, Ajayi Folaranmi Richardson, has shared 15 observations from his experience at a polling booth in Lagos, highlighting what he described as the realities that can shape election-day activities. Richardson, a journalist, educator and political analyst, reflected on issues ranging from voter turnout and the activities of party agents to intimidation, electoral violence, collation and the importance of participating in the voting process. His account comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) distributes sensitive electoral materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun ahead of the governorship election. The distribution is taking place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Osogbo, the state capital. INEC National Commissioner in cha...
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#OsunDecides2026: Accord Supporter Raises Alarm Over Alleged 4,000 Missing Ballot Papers in Osogbo

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  Princess Bola Olofin, an Accord Party supporter By Victor Olubiye A supporter of the Accord Party, Princess Bola Olofin, has raised concerns over the alleged absence of 4,000 ballot papers from election materials meant for Wards 4 and 5 in Osogbo, Osun State, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. Olofin, in a Facebook post on Friday night, also alleged that Accord agents were not allowed to inspect ballot materials at Olorunda Local Government Area. She called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide the alleged missing ballot papers, saying she was monitoring Ward 4 in Osogbo Local Government Area. “4,000 ballot papers missing from materials meant for Osogbo ward 4 and 5,” she wrote. “Accord agents were not allowed to inspect ballot materials at Olorunda LG. INEC must provide the ballot papers.” Olofin further stated that Ward 4, Osogbo Local Government Area, was the location where she was monitoring the election, adding that, in her assessment, th...
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#OsunDecides2026: EU Delegation Arrives, Meets Parties Ahead of Osun Governorship Poll

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  Governor Ademola Adeleke with members of the European Union Delegation ahead of the Osun governorship election By Victor Olubiye A European Union (EU) Delegation has arrived in Osun State and met with political parties and governorship candidates as part of its election observation activities ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. The delegation’s engagement with political stakeholders comes as preparations intensify across the state for the poll. Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to all 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State. Kindly Click On The Graphic To Follow The distribution is taking place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Osogbo, the state capital, ahead of Saturday’s election. INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Osun State election, Professor Kunle Ajayi, said the delay in the distribution was due to the late arrival of newly printed ballot papers and o...
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UPDATED: Osun Decides 2026: Hours to Poll, Security Fears and Fresh Political Tensions Shake Race

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  Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election By Victor Olubiye With only hours left before Osun voters decide who will govern the state for the next four years, preparations for Saturday’s governorship election are moving into their final stage while fresh security concerns, political allegations and last-minute realignments continue to shape the contest. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is ready for the August 15 poll, with 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards collected by registered voters out of 2,339,233 registered voters in the state. The figure represents 81.50 per cent of registered voters. But as electoral officials complete preparations, security agencies assure election personnel of protection, and observers conclude their training, a series of incidents and allegations have kept violence firmly at the centre of public concern. The election has also drawn the attention of President Bola Tinubu, who has...
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Osun Decides 2026: As Polls Near, Violence Fears and Political Claims Heighten Tension

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  Osun Decides 2026: Ademola Adeleke, Bola Oyebamiji and Najeem Salaam headline the race for Osun governorship By Victor Olubiye Two days before Osun voters decide who will occupy the Government House, concerns over political violence, disputed allegations and an internal crisis within the Accord Party are adding to the tension surrounding Saturday’s governorship election. The election, scheduled for August 15, is expected to pit incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, among other contenders. But beyond the battle for votes, concerns about the safety of voters, party supporters and residents have become a major issue as the state approaches election day. Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), which has been monitoring election-related violence in Osun, reported in July that the state recorded 56 such incidents over the preceding 12 months, w...
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: After Decades in Osun, Lagos and Ogun, a 72-Year-Old Woman Speaks on Flooding and Waste Management

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                            Watch the full interview video on The Creativity Site Facebook Page By Victor Olubiye Flooding, poor waste disposal, and environmental sanitation remain major concerns in many Nigerian communities, particularly during the rainy season. While governments continue to invest in drainage infrastructure and waste management programmes, questions remain about whether enough is being done—and whether citizens themselves are playing their part. To gain a grassroots perspective, The Creativity Site spoke with Mrs. Adeola Odudele, a 72-year-old woman who has lived in Osun, Lagos, and Ogun states over the course of her life. Drawing from decades of personal experience, she shared her observations on flooding, waste management, environmental cleanliness, and what she believes governments and citizens must do to protect their communities. Click on the graphic to follow us T he Interview Victor Olubiye :...
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The Real Opposition to Tinubu Is Not Atiku or Obi—It's Something Bigger

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  Three faces. Three ambitions. One nation searching for answers. As Nigeria edges toward 2027, the biggest battle may not be between politicians—but between promises and reality. By Victor Olubiye Every election season in Nigeria follows a familiar script. Politicians change parties. Alliances are announced with fanfare and quietly abandoned months later. Social media turns into a battlefield of supporters, critics, and professional propagandists. The opposition attacks the government; the government fires back. As conversations about 2027 grow louder, much of the public discussion has centred on the same names: Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and a growing cast of politicians exploring new alliances. Yet beneath the noise lies a different reality. The greatest challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election may not come from any rival politician. It may come from the mood of the country itself. That mood cannot be negotiated with in Abuja. It cannot be persuade...
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They Went to School Seeking a Future. Some Never Came Home

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A day after NANS observed Black Tuesday, the conversation around student safety remains far from over They left home to pursue an education. For some families, the journey ended in tragedy. By Victor Olubiye For most Nigerian parents, the day a child gains admission into a tertiary institution is a moment of pride. It is seen as the beginning of a journey toward a better future. But for some families, that journey has ended in tragedy. That painful reality was at the heart of the National Association of Nigerian Students' (NANS) declaration of July 28, 2026, as Black Tuesday—a day set aside to remember students whose lives were cut short by violence, insecurity, criminal attacks and incidents of jungle justice across the country. In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Comrade Obidah David, the student body said the initiative was intended not only to honour fallen students but also to draw attention to what many now describe as a growing threat to s...
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EXCLUSIVE: For Two Hours, a Mother Became Her Daughter's Child — What Happened Next Left Her in Tears

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  Symbolic depiction of a mother and her daughter during a role-reversal exercise that inspired reflections on parenting, discipline, and empathy. Photo Illustration/The Creativity Site . By Victor Olubiye When a Nigerian mother returned home from work one evening, she expected nothing more than a few quiet hours with her three-year-old daughter. Instead, she found herself being ordered around the house, told to recite multiplication tables, reminded of past punishments, and forced to see her parenting through a perspective she had never seriously considered before. "It was supposed to be a game," she told The Creativity Site. By the end of it, she was crying. The mother, who asked not to be identified, had suggested a simple role-reversal exercise. For two hours, her daughter would play the parent while she played the child. The arrangement sounded harmless enough. But children pay closer attention than many adults realize. As soon as the game started, the little girl slippe...
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CYDAN President Advocates Grassroots Youth Inclusion as Key to Nigeria’s Democratic Future

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  Seun Akinyele: CYDAN National President By Victor Olubiye The National President of the Constituencies Youths Development Association of Nigeria (CYDAN), Seun Akinyele, has called for greater grassroots youth participation in governance, describing young Nigerians as critical stakeholders in securing the country's democratic future. Akinyele made the call in a statement outlining CYDAN's vision for youth-led development and democratic engagement across Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. According to him, Nigeria's democratic progress cannot be sustained solely through leadership at the federal and state levels but must be strengthened through active participation at the constituency and community levels. He noted that local communities remain the foundation of the country's democratic structure and argued that empowering young people to engage in governance, accountability, and development initiatives would foster long-term national growth. Foc...
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EXPLAINER: As Oriire Schoolchildren Remain in Captivity, Can Tinubu's New Security Measures Make a Difference?

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  An explainer on Nigeria’s new security measures and the urgent question they raise as Oriire schoolchildren remain in captivity By Victor Olubiye On a day set aside to celebrate Nigeria's democratic journey, the country's lingering security crisis overshadowed the occasion. In his 2026 Democracy Day address, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and in Borno State, describing the incidents as painful reminders of the challenges confronting the nation. While expressing hope for the safe return of the victims, the President announced what his administration described as a major security response: the declaration of a security emergency, the approval of the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers alongside thousands of military personnel, and a ₦5.41 trillion allocation for defence and security in the 2026 budget. For many Nigerians, however, one question remains: Will these measures t...
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