Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke
By John Dike, Osogbo
Online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in preparation for next year’s governorship election in Osun State, will begin on August 18.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), announced this on Wednesday, in Osogbo, the state capital, through the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke.
He spoke during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Agboke explained that physical registration will commence on August 25, 2025, across all 30 INEC local government offices and the Area Office in Modakeke. The registration will run daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is completely free of charge.
However, he warned, “No INEC official is permitted to collect money from any registrant. If anyone does, report immediately”.
He praised the media in the state for their professionalism and their role in maintaining the credibility of the electoral process.
“I commend the Osun media for their responsible reporting. We’ve always had a cooperative relationship built on trust and accuracy. I urge you to sustain this standard, especially as we approach the 2026 polls,” he said.
Agboke announced that INEC will issue the official Notice of Election on August 13, 2025, and urged journalists to study the electoral timetable to better inform the public.
He also listed those eligible for the CVR:
- Citizens who have turned 18 and have never registered before;
- Registered voters who have relocated and need to transfer their voter records (not a fresh registration); and
- Voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are lost, damaged, or defaced.
Agboke disclosed that although Osun State currently has over 1.95 million registered voters, over 360,000 PVCs remain uncollected.
He called on the media to help raise awareness about PVC collection, reminding citizens that “no PVC, no voting” remains INEC’s standing rule.
On election integrity, the REC said journalists must actively help fight electoral malpractice.
“INEC cannot clean up the system alone. We need the media to speak out strongly against vote-buying, political violence, and fake news,” he emphasized
Responding to questions on the technical glitches experienced during the 2023 presidential election, Agboke clarified that the setbacks were unforeseen and not deliberate.
“These glitches were not intentional. The Commission has explained them on its website. Whether accepted or not, they were unforeseen issues that should not be blamed on any individual, including INEC. We’ve reviewed and learned from them,” he said.
He assured the public that INEC is committed to improving its systems ahead of the 2027 general elections, based on lessons learned from past shortcomings.
He also addressed the issue of overvoting, clarifying how it affects the outcome of elections.
“Overvoting occurs when the number of counted ballot papers exceeds the number of accredited voters. In such cases, INEC officials are mandated to cancel the result from that polling unit immediately. Such results do not even make it to the collation center,” he explained.
The REC renewed call for accuracy and responsibility in reporting, urging journalists to verify any INEC-related information directly from the state office before publication.
“You are not just reporters; you are critical electoral stakeholders. Together, we can ensure a peaceful and credible election in Osun,” he added.
