By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and peaceful Osun State Governorship Election on August 15, 2026, assuring stakeholders that all critical preparations have been concluded.
Speaking at the Osun State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum in Osogbo, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), Chairman of INEC, said the Commission had completed its logistical, technological and operational arrangements and was fully prepared to deliver an election that reflects the will of the people.
To encourage greater voter participation, Prof. Amupitan announced the extension of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise to Friday, July 31, 2026, after revealing that 322,822 newly registered voters, representing 62 per cent, had collected their PVCs. He also announced that a mock accreditation exercise would hold on Saturday, August 1, across 12 selected Local Government Areas to test the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) before election day.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin O. Babalola said the stakeholders’ meeting marked the final engagement before the election and highlighted the Commission’s level of preparedness. She disclosed that voter registration in the state had increased from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233, while all 3,763 BVAS devices required for the election had been configured and fully charged, with 1,328 backup machines set aside for contingencies. She added that non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the Local Government Areas, sensitive materials were secured at the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo, and training of ad hoc staff would commence from July 31 to August 9.
Also speaking, Professor Kunle Ajayi, Supervising National Commissioner for Osun State, described the election as a critical test of Nigeria’s democratic credentials. He said the Commission had invested heavily in election logistics, voter education, personnel training, and technology to enhance transparency and credibility. Prof. Ajayi warned political parties against inflammatory rhetoric, voter intimidation, and vote buying, noting that anyone found violating the Electoral Act would face the full weight of the law. He also called on security agencies, the media, and civil society organisations to remain professional and impartial in supporting the electoral process.
The forum ended with a robust interactive session, where stakeholders raised questions on election logistics, security, BVAS deployment, PVC collection, voter accreditation, and other electoral issues. Responding, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, addressed the concerns and reassured participants that the Commission had put adequate measures in place to ensure a peaceful, transparent, free, and credible governorship election on August 15.
Following the stakeholders’ engagement, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, led National Commissioners, members of the Commission’s management team, and other senior officials into a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES)
Following the stakeholders’ engagement, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, led National Commissioners, members of the Commission’s management team, and other senior officials into a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES)
