The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to safeguard the integrity of the 2026 Osun State governorship election, assuring voters that the process will be transparent, fair and professionally managed.
At a stakeholder engagement in Osogbo on Wednesday, Osun’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, said preparations were already underway following the formal issuance of the election notice.
INEC figures show the state has nearly two million registered voters, but more than 360,000 have yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards. Continuous Voter Registration is set to resume on 18 August, and Agboke emphasised that “no PVC, no voting” would apply.
He appealed to political parties, youth groups and other stakeholders to reject violence, vote buying and hate speech, warning that such offences attract legal penalties. Civil society organisations and the media, he said, must actively expose and resist any malpractice.
Agboke also urged the Inter-Party Advisory Council to encourage its members to conduct issue-based campaigns.
Security representatives at the forum assured that measures would be in place to maintain peace throughout the electoral period.
