Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has raised alarms regarding the security climate ahead of the August 15, 2026, gubernatorial election in Osun State. During a Peace Accord signing event in Osogbo, he warned political figures and their supporters that the commission will strictly enforce the law against any form of election interference or violence.
Amupitan confirmed that INEC has finalized 11 major milestones from its election schedule, leaving only the conclusion of campaigns on August 13 and the poll itself. The commission is set to manage 3,763 polling units across 30 local government areas and the Modakeke Area Office, serving over 2.3 million eligible voters. To increase participation, the window for collecting Permanent Voter Cards has been extended until July 31.
Addressing security concerns, the INEC Chairperson stated that the commission has shifted from reactive monitoring to a proactive stance. Through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), authorities are implementing intelligence-driven strategies to secure every polling unit. He specifically noted that security forces have clear instructions to remain neutral while suppressing any attempts to disrupt the democratic process.
Regarding reports of stolen PVCs in certain areas, Amupitan reassured the public that these cards are useless to unauthorized users because the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) requires live biometric verification. Furthermore, he noted that 4,427 BVAS units have been configured for the event, and results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal immediately after voting ends.
To combat vote buying, the commission is partnering with the EFCC and ICPC to deploy plain-clothes intelligence officers to monitor polling environments. Meanwhile, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, representing the National Peace Committee, urged parties to honor the peace deal, and AIG Fasuba Akinyele Olabode promised a neutral, heavy police presence. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, concluded the event by commending INEC and reminding all stakeholders that the stability of Osun State outweighs any political ambition.
