Osun 2026: INEC Pull Security Rules Ahead Govship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced stricter measures to guarantee neutrality and professionalism among security agencies ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun, Oluwatoyin Babalola, announced that all security personnel deployed for election duty will take an oath of neutrality. She explained that the oath is designed to reinforce impartiality and prevent misconduct during the poll.

According to Babalola, the commission has identified gaps from previous elections where some officers lacked adequate knowledge of electoral procedures. To address this, INEC will conduct intensive training sessions for security operatives at both state and senatorial district levels between July 13 and 19.

Beyond security, INEC is also focusing on the competence of its election staff. Training for Supervisory Presiding Officers will run from July 31 to August 2, while Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers will be trained on August 9. These sessions are expected to strengthen operational efficiency and reduce errors at polling units.

On technology, Babalola confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed across all 3,763 polling units in the state. An additional 664 BVAS machines will serve as backups. She stressed that the devices will not only accredit voters but also upload results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), ensuring transparency and public access to polling unit results.

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She assured that all BVAS devices are fully charged and will be configured closer to election day. Technical support staff, known as RATECHs, will be stationed across registration areas to provide immediate assistance in case of device challenges.

INEC has already received and distributed 80 percent of non-sensitive election materials to local government areas. Sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, will be delivered during the week of the election under tight security.

On voter registration, the REC disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise recorded 381,817 new registrants, alongside thousands of transfers, updates, and replacements of lost Permanent Voter Cards. She noted that Osun had 1,954,800 registered voters before the exercise, and the commission will announce PVC collection dates once the new cards are ready.

Babalola reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, and inclusive election. She highlighted that seven of the 13 scheduled activities in the election timetable have already been completed, demonstrating readiness for the poll.

The Osun governorship race will see incumbent Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking re-election. He faces strong opposition from Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress, and 11 other candidates.

INEC has called for collaboration with stakeholders, particularly the media, to ensure accurate reporting and public confidence in the process. The commission insists that neutrality, transparency, and professionalism remain the guiding principles as Osun prepares for one of Nigeria’s most closely watched state elections.