- Warns Against Vote-Buying as APC, Accord Supporters nearly disrupt Stakeholders’ Forum
By John Dike, Osogbo
Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party on Wednesday disrupted the Osun State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo, creating a tense atmosphere that nearly stalled proceedings and prompted heightened security vigilance.
The well-attended forum, presided over by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), witnessed repeated chants, counter-chants and political songs by supporters of the two major parties, forcing security operatives to remain on red alert over fears of a possible breakdown of law and order.
The tension was eventually brought under control after Prof. Amupitan appealed to party supporters to embrace peace, reminding them that elections are democratic contests and not wars.
“Election is not about violence. It is about giving the people the opportunity to freely choose leaders who will advance the development of Osun State and Nigeria,” he said.
Despite the charged atmosphere, the INEC Chairman assured political parties, candidates and the electorate that the Commission was fully prepared to conduct a credible, transparent and peaceful governorship election on August 15, 2026.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum, Amupitan unveiled a comprehensive package of operational, technological and security measures designed to guarantee the credibility of the election, including the deployment of 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, extension of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, enhanced election security and stronger collaboration with anti-corruption agencies to combat vote-buying.
He described the forum as an important accountability platform through which INEC demonstrates its operational readiness and reaffirms its neutrality before political parties and the electorate.
According to him, the Commission has completed comprehensive readiness assessments across all 30 local government areas of the state and is fully prepared to conduct the election in strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines.
Amupitan disclosed that Osun State has 2,339,233 registered voters, spread across 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas (wards) and 3,763 polling units, while 14 political parties are participating in the election.
He said 322,822 newly registered voters, representing 62 per cent, had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as of the close of collection on Tuesday.
To enable more eligible voters to participate in the election, the Commission extended PVC collection until Friday, July 31, 2026.
“We have decided to extend the collection till Friday, 31st July to enable those who have not collected their PVCs to do so. This is to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised,” Amupitan said.
He added that security agencies had been directed to provide maximum security around all PVC collection centres across the state.
The INEC Chairman explained that the Commission had successfully sanitised the voters’ register using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which eliminated cases of multiple registrations and other invalid entries before certifying the final register.
Drawing lessons from the recent Ekiti State governorship election, where more than 90 per cent of polling units reportedly commenced accreditation by 8:30 a.m., Amupitan said INEC intends to match or surpass that performance in Osun.
To facilitate early deployment of personnel and election materials, he announced that the Commission had established 97 Super Registration Area Centres (Super RACs) and 105 Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the state.
He said agreements with transport unions, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), would be concluded before election day to guarantee seamless movement of election materials.
On election technology, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had deployed 4,427 customised BVAS machines, including 664 backup units, representing a 15 per cent operational reserve to immediately replace any malfunctioning device during accreditation.
He stressed that biometric verification through fingerprints or facial recognition remains the only legally recognised method of voter accreditation.
“There will be no manual accreditation,” he declared.
He further assured stakeholders that polling unit results would be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal immediately after voting to promote transparency.
The Commission will also conduct a statewide Mock Accreditation Exercise on Saturday, August 1, across 12 selected local government areas covering the three senatorial districts.
The selected councils are Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun and Boripe in Osun Central; Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Oriade and Obokun in Osun East; and Egbedore, Ede North, Ede South and Ejigbo in Osun West.
He invited political parties, election observers, civil society organisations and journalists to witness the exercise, describing it as INEC’s final technology test ahead of the governorship election.
On security, Amupitan said the Commission had activated an Electoral Risk Management framework in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to identify, monitor and mitigate threats before and during the election.
According to him, identified flashpoints include Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade local government areas.
He assured residents that security agencies would maintain a strong but impartial presence in the identified areas.
Expressing concern over rising incidents of political violence, the INEC Chairman said the Commission had shifted from reactive monitoring to proactive security planning.
He disclosed that INEC was working closely with the nation’s security agencies and traditional rulers to ensure a peaceful election, recalling recent consultations with the Ooni of Ife and other monarchs, while similar engagements would continue with the Ataoja of Osogbo and other traditional institutions.
Amupitan also addressed recent attacks on INEC offices in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Ife Central, where uncollected PVCs were stolen.
He assured affected voters that the stolen cards were useless without biometric verification and disclosed that INEC had directed its ICT Department to reprint the stolen PVCs and provide downloadable PVCs where necessary to prevent disenfranchisement.
The Commission also announced special arrangements for persons living with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters through Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, sign language materials and priority voting queues.
Warning against vote-buying, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had strengthened collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
He said plain-clothes anti-corruption operatives would be deployed around polling units to arrest both vote buyers and sellers.
The INEC Chairman urged political parties to treat Thursday’s Peace Accord signing under the National Peace Committee and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) as a genuine commitment to peaceful elections rather than a ceremonial exercise.
He warned that political leaders whose supporters engage in violence or sponsor thuggery would face the full weight of the law.
Lamenting voter apathy, Amupitan challenged political parties and civil society organisations to intensify voter mobilisation campaigns across the state.
He also urged journalists to report the election fairly and responsibly, while calling on election observer groups to conduct their activities strictly in line with INEC’s guidelines.
Reaffirming the Commission’s neutrality, Amupitan declared:
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has no preferred candidate, holds no political allegiance, and seeks no outcome other than the lawful choice of the electorate. Our sole loyalty is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
He urged eligible voters across Osun State to reject violence, fear and misinformation and turn out peacefully on August 15, assuring them that every valid vote would count.
