- Questions election materials
By John Dike, Osogbo
The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has raised concerns over what it described as disturbing developments ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, alleging the unofficial presence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ebonyi State, Mrs. Pauline Ugoyenka, in Osun and questioning the use of what it termed uncustomised election materials.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, the campaign council alleged that Mrs. Ugoyenka was not among the Resident Electoral Commissioners officially deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to supervise the Osun governorship election.
The council claimed that the Ebonyi REC was currently staying at a hotel in Osogbo and questioned the purpose of her presence in the state.
According to the statement, an INEC letter dated August 3, 2026, listing Resident Electoral Commissioners deployed from 15 states for the election, did not include Ebonyi State.
The campaign council therefore called on INEC to publicly explain Mrs. Ugoyenka’s presence in Osun, disclose her official assignment, if any, and publish the complete list of all officials deployed for the election.
TICC further alleged that the REC had earlier been lodged at another hotel where individuals described as hackers allegedly brought into the state were staying as part of an alleged plot to manipulate the election.
The campaign organisation also expressed concern over what it described as uncustomised ballot papers and result sheets allegedly intended for use in the election.
It urged INEC to clarify why election materials for the Osun governorship poll would not be specifically customised and insisted that only properly customised ballot papers and result sheets verified for the election should be used.
According to the council, any arrangement capable of compromising the credibility, transparency and integrity of the election would not be acceptable.
The group also called on the Chairman of INEC to investigate the alleged presence of the Ebonyi REC in Osun and, if she had no official assignment, ensure her immediate withdrawal from the state.
The allegations contained in the statement have not been independently verified. INEC and the Ebonyi State Resident Electoral Commissioner had not responded to the claims as of the time of filing this report.
