The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and peaceful governorship election in Osun State on August 15, 2026, assuring Nigerians that all critical preparations have been concluded.
Speaking at the Osun State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum in Osogbo, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, said the Commission had finalized its logistical, technological and operational arrangements and was fully prepared to deliver an election that reflects the will of the electorate.
To boost voter participation, Prof. Amupitan announced the extension of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise until Friday, July 31, 2026. He disclosed that 322,822 newly registered voters, representing 62 percent of eligible registrants, had already collected their PVCs.
He also revealed that a mock accreditation exercise would be conducted on Saturday, August 1, across 12 selected Local Government Areas to test the efficiency of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the election.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin O. Babalola, described the stakeholders’ forum as the Commission’s final major engagement before the governorship election. She highlighted INEC’s level of preparedness, noting that the state’s voter register had increased from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233 registered voters.
According to the REC, all 3,763 BVAS devices designated for the election have been configured, tested and fully charged, while an additional 1,328 backup machines have been deployed for contingencies. She added that non-sensitive election materials had already been distributed to the 30 Local Government Areas, while sensitive materials remain securely stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Osogbo. Training for ad hoc election personnel, she said, will run from July 31 to August 9.
Also addressing stakeholders, the Supervising National Commissioner for Osun State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, described the election as a significant test of Nigeria’s democratic credentials. He stated that the Commission had invested substantially in election logistics, voter education, personnel training and technology to ensure transparency and credibility throughout the electoral process.
Prof. Ajayi warned political parties and their supporters against inflammatory rhetoric, voter intimidation, violence and vote buying, stressing that anyone found violating the Electoral Act would face the full weight of the law. He also urged security agencies, the media and civil society organisations to remain professional, impartial and committed to supporting a peaceful electoral process.
The forum concluded with an interactive session during which stakeholders sought clarifications on election logistics, security arrangements, BVAS deployment, PVC collection and voter accreditation. Responding to the concerns, Prof. Amupitan assured participants that the Commission had put in place adequate measures to guarantee a peaceful, transparent, free and credible governorship election on August 15.
Following the stakeholders’ engagement, the INEC Chairman led National Commissioners, members of the Commission’s management team and other senior officials into a strategic meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), aimed at strengthening inter-agency collaboration and ensuring a secure environment for the successful conduct of the Osun State Governorship Election.
