Osun Governorship Poll: INEC Chairman Assures of Commission’s Readiness, Urges Media to Combat Fake News
By Our Correspondent
Osogbo (Core Reporters) The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Joash Amupitan, has declared the Commission fully prepared for the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, assuring Nigerians that all logistics, technology, security, and personnel are in place for a credible, peaceful, and transparent poll.
Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Osogbo on Saturday, Amupitan said the Commission’s readiness was confirmed following the successful mock accreditation exercise conducted across the state’s three senatorial districts.
According to him, the exercise demonstrated the efficiency of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), with voter verification taking between 30 seconds and two minutes, while the deployment of additional backup devices would ensure prompt replacement of any malfunctioning equipment on election day.
To strengthen election technology, INEC increased the number of BVAS devices from 4,427 to 5,130, while backup machines were doubled from 664 to 1,328 to support polling units, particularly in areas with split polling units.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that 2,339,233 registered voters are expected to participate in the election across 3,763 polling units, 320 wards, and 30 local government areas, with 14 political parties fielding candidates.
On security, Amupitan said the Commission had intensified collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), adopting intelligence-led deployments to identified flashpoints across the state.
He acknowledged recent attacks on INEC offices in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas, where batches of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were stolen, but assured voters that the stolen cards could not be used to vote because of BVAS biometric verification.
“The stolen PVCs are functionally useless. Without biometric authentication by the legitimate owner, they cannot be used for accreditation,” he said, adding that affected cards would be reprinted or replaced with downloadable PVCs where necessary.
Amupitan also outlined measures to combat vote-buying, revealing that INEC was working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and other agencies to monitor polling areas and arrest both vote buyers and sellers.
The Commission, he added, had also provided assistive facilities for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and elderly voters to ensure inclusive participation.
Highlighting stakeholder engagement, the INEC Chairman said the Commission had secured commitments from political parties through the signing of a peace accord, consulted traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife and the Ataoja of Osogbo, and finalized logistics arrangements with transport unions to guarantee timely deployment of personnel and election materials.
Amupitan urged media organisations to uphold professionalism by verifying information before publication and avoiding the spread of misinformation capable of undermining the electoral process.
“The greatest threat to this election is not technical failure but misinformation and disinformation. We urge the media to report responsibly and help educate voters,” he said.
Reaffirming INEC’s neutrality, the Chairman stressed that the Commission’s responsibility was not to determine winners but to ensure that every valid vote counts.
“We do not care who wins the election; we only care how they win. Our duty is to guarantee a transparent process that reflects the true will of the people,” he said.
He described the Osun governorship election as a critical test ahead of the 2027 General Elections and called on the media to partner with INEC in delivering a peaceful, credible, and successful electoral process.
