Osun 2026: INEC Rules Out Alternative Accreditation, Political Parties Commit to Peace
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, has said there would be no manual accreditation during the Osun State governorship election, stressing that biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, remained the only statutory method for accrediting voters.
Amupitan made the declaration Thursday in Osogbo, during the formal signing of the Osun State Governorship Election Peace Accord ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship poll.
The event was organised by the National Peace Committee, NPC, and attended by political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers and others.
The INEC chairman, however, assured residents that the commission was in an advanced stage of readiness for the election, with seven of the nine activities in the election timetable already completed.
He revealed that voting would hold in the 30 local government areas, Modakeke Area Office, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units.
“The certified register of voters after the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) exercise is 2,339,233 eligible voters while PVC collection at local government offices has been extended to Friday, 31 July to enable more registered voters collect their cards before the election,” he said.
Amupitan also spoke on recent security incidents in which uncollected Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, were stolen in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area and Ife Central.
He assured the public that the stolen PVCs cannot be used for voting as they require live biometric verification through BVAS for accreditation.
“As biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is still the only statutory means of accreditation, there will be no manual accreditation. “Without live biometric verification on the BVAS, a stolen card cannot accredit anybody,” he said.
The INEC chairman said the serial numbers of the stolen PVCs could be blacklisted, while security agencies were pursuing those responsible and affected voters would be issued replacement cards or authorized to use digital verification PVC downloads.
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He disclosed that the commission had customised 4,427 BVAS devices for Osun State including 664 backup units which represent 15 per cent operational reserve and explained that all polling unit result sheets known as Form EC8A would be scanned and uploaded directly to INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, immediately after voting.
Amupitan expressed concern over reports of political violence and insecurity, noting that INEC had moved from reactive monitoring to proactive prevention through intelligence-led security operations coordinated by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES.
We will not let the democratic will of the people be subverted by fear or force. “Security agencies will be protecting voters, election officials and electoral materials during the exercise,” he added.
Represented by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, urged political parties to respect both the spirit and letter of the Peace Accord.
Elections, he said, would come and go, but peace and stability must stay, urging INEC and security agencies to be impartial and professional during the electoral process.
Olatunji Disu, representing the Inspector-General of Police, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasugba of Zone XI Command, assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force was well prepared to secure the election.
Additional police personnel had started arriving in Osun, he said, pledging that the police would remain neutral to ensure a free, fair, credible and transparent election.
He also said that Amotekun Corps and vigilante groups would not be used for election security duties.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has raised alarm over the harassment and arrest of members of his Accord party, claiming that over 60 party members, including the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, have been arrested.
He called on the National Peace Committee to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to return those detained in Abuja for trial in Osun and also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene. Adeleke reiterated his commitment to peaceful, free and fair elections.
Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, urged residents to shun violence and protect the state’s reputation for peace.
“Osun State is bigger than any individual,” he said. Don’t let anyone buy your conscience. “Vote that person, whatever you decide to vote, and go back home in peace.” We do not want any violence.”
The highlight of the event was when the participating political parties formally signed the Peace Accord.
