Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is the only authorized method for voter verification during the upcoming Osun State governorship election. Manual accreditation will not be permitted. This announcement occurred on Thursday in Osogbo during the signing of the Peace Accord for the August 15, 2026, poll.
Organized by the National Peace Committee, the event included political leaders, security chiefs, and traditional rulers. Amupitan reported that seven of nine electoral stages are complete. The election will span 30 local government areas, with 2,339,233 eligible voters registered. To assist residents, the deadline for picking up Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at local offices has been moved to July 31.
Addressing the theft of PVCs in Odo-Otin and Ife Central, the chairman emphasized that stolen cards are useless for voting, as the BVAS requires live biometric authentication. The commission plans to blacklist these serial numbers and provide replacements for affected citizens. To ensure smooth operations, 4,427 BVAS units have been prepared, and results will be uploaded directly to the IReV portal.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, urged all parties to prioritize stability over political interests. Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke requested the release of over 60 detained party members, and police representatives pledged neutrality, confirming that groups like the Amotekun Corps will not be involved in security duties. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, concluded by calling on citizens to shun violence and protect the state’s peaceful reputation.
