Osun governorship: INEC holds press briefing, releases pre-election activities’ timetable

By Isa Isawade

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday at its Osun State Headquarters in Osogbo held a press briefing where pre and during election’s activities and timelines were highlighted ahead of the 15 August governorship election.

The briefing which marked commencement of INEC’s electoral activities for the governorship election was addressed by the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola.

Mrs. Babalola, in her address, warmly welcome the media and provided an update on INEC’s preparedness, key electoral timelines, the timetable and schedule of activities tailored towards the conduct of a free and acceptable election come August 15.

She expressed appreciation to the media community in Osun State for its “unwavering professionalism in the dissemination of electoral information, voter education and enlightenment as well as sensitisation on electoral processes,” adding that the media’s commitment to truth, accuracy, and balanced reportage had significantly contributed to deepening democratic values and strengthening public trust in the electoral process.

On the level of the commission’s preparedness for the election, Mrs Babalola acknowledged the expectation of all for INEC to “deliver a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election that accurately reflects the will of the people of Osun State.”

Towards this, she informed the sitting that seven out of the thirteen activities outlined in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election had been fully implemented with campaign by political parties which is the 8th activity ongoing.

Activities already concluded, according to INEC are publication of notice of election, conduct of party primaries, nomination of candidates, publication of personal particulars of candidates and publication of final list of nominated candidates.

The two activities remaining ahead on the timetable are the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise and the Voter Registration Data.

She said the commission approved the conduct of CVR exercise, which was held in 2 phases – 25thAugust- 21stDec, 2025 and 5th January – 3rd May 2026.

She added that the exercise was carried out to ensure all eligible voters are captured in the register of voters for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, targeting all Nigerians who are 18 years of age and above but have not registered in the previous exercise and registered voters who had any issues with accreditation/authentication in the previous elections.

Operational Activities

Aside from statutory activities, INEC team in Osun has planned a number of other pre-election operational activities for the election to ensure the conduct of credible, free, fair, peaceful, transparent, and inclusive election in Osun State.

Some of key areas of preparations are identification of flash points and difficult terrain with INEC fully prepared to work closely with all security agencies; recruitment and training of adhoc staff which she said would close on 18th July 2026, and trainings of electoral personnel which the commission refers to as Train the trainers (ToT).

Babalola added that “To ensure that Presiding Officers have a good understanding of their roles, the state is embarking on 8 weeks of robust root training for NYSC members ahead of the general training having regard to the fact that they form the bulk part of the poll officials. This training which has commenced is for eight weeks.

“We have held strategic inclusive sensitisation activities for marginalised groups (Women, Youth and PWDs), faith based and religious groups as well as community based non-governmental organisations (NGO) to Local Governments in the state.

‘The activities are, grassroot sensitization in LGAs to enhance participation of women, grassroots support and implementation meeting by local organisations for confidence building and effective participation of the electorates, sensitisation of PWDs to foster inclusive environment.

“In addition, the Commission is providing magnifying glasses, braille ballot guides and priority voting access for persons with disability, the elderly and nursing mothers.”

She listed outstanding training within the electoral timeline to include:

 Technical Training for Eos, AEOs, LGTO 6th – 10th July 2026
 Pre-Election Training Plan Mid July 2026
 Training of Election Security Personnel (State) 13th- 15th July 2026
 Training of Election Security Personnel (Zonal) 17th – 19th July 2026
 SPO Training 31st July – 2nd Aug. 2026
 Training of PO/APOs 9th Aug. 2026
 Training of collation officers 12th – 13th Aug. 2026

Registration Area Centre (RAC)

According to her, a total of 97 Super RAC and 105 RACs will be used to camp SPOs, POs and APOs for the election to ensure early deployment of men and materials on election day.

Electoral Logistics
She assured that all sensitive and non-sensitive materials required for the election have been identified, adding that 80% of non-sensitive materials required have been received and deployed to LGAs and batched into Racs and Polling Units (PUs).

She added that INEC’s Osun state office was collaborating closely with relevant security agencies to ensure safety of the materials.

She noted that sensitive election materials are normally delivered very close to election day and therefore were yet to be received.

According to her, they will be delivered and deployed to Local Government Areas on the week of election. They include ballot papers, EC8A Polling Unit Result Sheet, EC8B Summary of Result from polling Units at RA level, EC 8C Summary of Result from at RA level and EC 8D State Collation Form.

Others are EC 8E Declaration of Result Form, EC40G Summary of Pus where Election was not held/cancelled and BVAS.

On voter education and public awareness, the REC said “In recognition of the importance of voter participation in election and need to review voter apathy, we are in regular collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure effective participation of the electorate and dissemination of accurate and timely information about the election.

“In addition, we are deploying multiple media channels including radio, television, social media, street show, market outreaches, visit to traditional rulers and faith-based organisations and town hall meeting to reach diverse groups.

“Airing of jingles on the election and voter education is ongoing on a daily basis. The commission is currently sponsoring programmes on radio and television in this regard.”

To ensure transparency and smooth conduct of the election, she said INEC Osun State was working closely with stakeholders such as civil societies, political parties, the Media and the transport providers.

She said INEC had reached an agreement with the transport union in the state that vehicles that will be used to transport men and materials on the election day would be inspected between 11th and 12th August 2026. To this, she said the union had promised to set up a situation room for the election to enable them address challenges and communication with the commission.

“In furtherance of our engagement, the union also invited the State Office to provide facilitators at the training for their Local Government Coordinators held on 22nd June 2026. The training was interactive and fruitful,” she added.

SECURITY

“The commission is engaging with security agencies through the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and we have assurance of safe environment for election.

“The Commissioner of Police held a strategic peace meeting against violence ahead of the election on 24th June 2026. The CP assured all stakeholders that the command has put in place comprehensive security arrangements to prevent all forms of violence and ensure a peaceful environment before, during and after the election. All heads of security agencies were in attendance.

“The DIG in charge of ICT/ supervising South West Zone held another Strategic Stakeholders’ Security Meeting on 26th June 2026. Far reaching resolutions on security were made to ensure peace and safety in Osun State,” the REC said.

Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)

She assured that BVAS will be deployed across all 3,763 polling units in the state for voter accreditation to ensure that only registered voters with valid PVCs will vote on election day.

Towards this, she informed that a total of 3,763 BVAS would be deployed for the election and that additional 664 BVAS would be set aside as backups.

“In addition to voter Accreditation, the BVAS will be used to upload polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for enhanced transparency and for the public to have access to PU election results.

“All the BVAS devices are already charged awaiting configuration which shall be carried out close to election. Registration Area Technical Support Staff (RATECHs) will be deployed to all RAs to offer technical assistance,” she added.

She appealed for the cooperation and collaboration of all, emphasising that “the success of any electoral activity extends beyond the commission alone. It demands robust collaboration from all stakeholders, particularly, the Media.”

She concluded her address by reaffirming INEC’s firm commitment to transparency, professionalism, neutrality, and inclusivity, pledging that ‘Together, we shall deliver a free, fair, credible, inclusive, transparent and peaceful election.”