The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared its readiness to conduct a credible, peaceful and transparent governorship election in Osun State on August 15, announcing an extension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to July 31 to enable more eligible voters participate in the exercise.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), made the announcement on Wednesday in Osogbo, during the Osun State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum.
Addressing political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, election observers and journalists, the INEC Chairman said the extension became necessary after the Commission reviewed the turnout for PVC collection.
According to him, out of the 2,339,233 registered voters in Osun State, only 322,822 newly registered voters, representing 62 per cent, had collected their PVCs as at the close of the initial exercise on Tuesday.
He said the commission decided to extend the collection period until Friday, July 31, in the interest of inclusiveness and to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
“We have contacted the security agencies and requested the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to provide adequate security around the collection centres. Those yet to collect their PVCs should take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.
Amupitan assured stakeholders that INEC had completed all logistical, technological and operational preparations for the election, stressing that the Commission remained committed to conducting a poll that meets the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and its electoral guidelines.
He disclosed that the election would involve 14 political parties, with voting taking place across 3,763 polling units located in 332 wards and the 30 local government areas of the state.
The 14 parties and their candidates cleared for the ballot are: Accord, Adeleke Ademola; AA, Olarewaju Farinloye; AAC, Esan Olajide; ADC, Salaam Najeem; ADP, Adeagbo Opawoye; APC, Oyebamiji Bola; APGA, Adeyemi-Doro Adesina; APM, Adebayo Adewale; APP, Adesuyi Clement; BP, Adeleke Adesoji; NNPP, Adeleke Taofeek; PRP, Saliu Oyelami; YPP, Ogunsakin Enoch; and ZLP, Adesuyi Olufemi.
The INEC Chairman explained that the voter register had been thoroughly cleaned through the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which eliminated multiple registrations and invalid entries.
To guarantee early commencement of voting, he said the Commission had decentralised election materials through 97 Super Registration Area Centres and 105 Registration Area Centres across the state.
He added that 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, including 664 backup devices, had been configured and deployed for the election.
According to him, accreditation will be carried out exclusively through biometric verification using BVAS, while all polling unit results will be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal immediately after voting.
The Commission also announced that a mock accreditation exercise would be conducted on Saturday, August 1, across 12 selected local government areas covering the state’s three senatorial districts to test the functionality of the BVAS before the election.
On security, Amupitan acknowledged concerns over recent political violence in parts of the state, saying INEC had adopted proactive security measures in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
He identified Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Ifelodun, Oriade and Osogbo as areas that would receive enhanced security deployment because of identified electoral risks.
He warned that the commission would not tolerate acts of violence, intimidation, ballot disruption or political thuggery.
“The ballot box, not the bullet, will decide the future of Osun State,” he declared.
The INEC Chairman also revealed that the Commission was investigating attacks on its offices in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Areac, and Ife Central, where some uncollected PVCs were stolen.
He, however, reassured voters that the stolen PVCs could not be used to vote because accreditation is based on biometric verification through the BVAS.
According to him, the commission has directed that the stolen PVCs be reprinted, while affected voters may also be allowed to use downloadable PVCs for the election.
Amupitan further disclosed that INEC had strengthened collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other relevant agencies to tackle vote-buying and other electoral offences during the poll.
He said undercover anti-corruption officers would monitor polling environments to apprehend both vote buyers and sellers.
The INEC Chairman appealed to political parties and candidates to honour the Peace Accord scheduled for Thursday, July 30, and ensure that their supporters conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.
He also urged journalists to report the election professionally and responsibly, while calling on civil society organisations to intensify voter mobilisation to address voter apathy.
Reaffirming the commission’s neutrality, Amupitan stressed that INEC has no preferred candidate or political party.
“Our sole loyalty is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the sovereign will of the Nigerian people. Let us work together to set a standard of peace, operational efficiency and electoral integrity that Osun State and the nation can be proud of,” he said.
Amupitan also disclosed that a Peace Accord involving the 14 political parties would be signed on Thursday, 30 July 2026, under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
In his opening remarks, the Supervising National Commissioner for Osun State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, urged political parties, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, the media and civil society organisations to collaborate for a peaceful and credible election, warning that vote buying and inflammatory rhetoric would not be tolerated by the commission.
In her welcome address, Mrs Toyin Babalola said the commission had concluded 11 of the 13 activities on its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, with only the conclusion of campaigns by political parties and the conduct of the election itself outstanding.
She said the Official Register of Voters had been presented to political parties sponsoring candidates for the election, and that voter registers for all polling units had been printed in both black-and-white and colour formats for use on election day.
On personnel, the REC said training of ad-hoc staff would run from 31 July to 9 August 2026 at state and Local Government Area levels, with the actual number of eligible ad-hoc staff to be selected from the recruitment portal based on competence, neutrality and professionalism.
Mrs Babalola said all non-sensitive election materials for the election had already arrived in the Local Government Areas and had been sorted and batched for onward distribution to polling units. She added that all RACs across the 30 Local Government Areas had been identified, with materials procured for ad-hoc staff who would camp at the RACs on the eve of the election, noting that the Commission operates both regular RACs and Super RACs.
She further disclosed that sensitive election materials for the election arrived in the state on 27 July 2026 and are being secured at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Osogbo.
On security, Babalola said security agencies had assured the commission of adequate protection for a peaceful election, and that an Oath of Loyalty and Neutrality would be administered to all security agents as stipulated under Section 26 of the Electoral Act. She said election security personnel had been trained at both state and senatorial district levels to enhance professionalism and understanding of the electoral process.
The REC called on political parties to educate their supporters, candidates to reject violence, community leaders to preach peace, traditional rulers to promote dialogue, religious leaders to speak against hatred, the media to report responsibly, and civil society organisations to mobilise citizens for peaceful participation, as she reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to transparency, professionalism, neutrality and inclusivity ahead of the election.
The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, who represented the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu, assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force would remain neutral, professional and committed to safeguarding lives, property and the integrity of the 15 August 2026 governorship election.
He also warned politicians and their supporters against vote-buying and other electoral offences, declaring that anyone caught violating the Electoral Act would be arrested and prosecuted, regardless of political affiliation or social status.
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