Professor Joash Ojo Amupita, head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has confirmed that the agency is fully prepared to manage the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026. During a stakeholders’ forum in Osogbo, he stated that the commission has finalized all logistical and technical arrangements to ensure the process adheres to the Electoral Act 2026.
Audits conducted across the state’s 30 local government areas indicate that the agency is ready for a transparent election. A total of 2,339,233 voters are registered across 3,763 polling units, with 14 political parties set to compete. To support this, the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has been extended until July 31 to avoid disenfranchising eligible citizens.
Technological measures are also in place, with 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) units prepared for the poll. Professor Amupita clarified that biometric verification is mandatory, and no manual accreditation will be permitted. Furthermore, election results will be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Regarding security, INEC is collaborating with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to monitor potential flashpoints. Addressing concerns over vote-buying, the commission has established partnerships with the EFCC and ICPC to prosecute any electoral misconduct. Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola added that election materials are currently secured at the Central Bank of Nigeria, with staff training set to conclude before the election date.
