2026 Gubernatorial: Osun INEC Presents Notice of Election To Political Parties, Engages Expanded Stakeholders On Readiness
By Abisola Ariwodola,
Independent National Electoral Commission INEC through its Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Dr Mutiu Olaleke Agboke in Osun state has presented Notice of Election to political parties, and also declared the readiness of the commission to kickstart August 8, 2026 election process.
This is as the Osun REC at the event announced the planning put in place for the Continuous Voters Registration, and the kick start of the Governorship Election notice pasting in all the 30 local government offices of INEC in Osun state, including the Area office at Modakeke.
Dr Agboke who made this known at the Expanded Stakeholders Engagement held at Olusegun Agbaje Media Centre, INEC office Osogbo, stated that the commission is working by the time table released by the INEC headquarters, stated that the conduct of party primaries including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries will start on the 24th day of November, 2025 and end on the 15th day of December, 2025. This is necessary to enable political parties democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
He implored political parties and other stakeholders to follow the timetable for the 2026 Governorship Election with a view to tracking the various activities, while he announced the current electoral statistics of Osun state as contained in the commission’s database as at 31st day of July, 2025 as follows:
Number of registered voters – 1, 954,800
Number of permanent voter cards (PVCs) collected – 1, 594,006
Number of Uncollected PVCs – 360,794
Number of Registration Areas/Electoral Wards – 332
Number of Polling Units – 3763
Dr Agboke reiterated that the INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) throughout Nigeria will start on the 18th day of August, 2025 with online registration, adding that prospective registrant are to visit www.cvr.inecnigeria.org to supply necessary information about himself or herself, and thereafter generate a slip to take to INEC local government office within his place of residence.
For the second leg of the CVR on the 25th of August, 2025, the REC added that the registrant will visit the INEC local government office for his or her biometrics i.e the fingerprint and the facials, which completes the online registration, done seamlessly without any difficulty and at NO COST.
The Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner listed qualified persons eligible to register as:
– An adult who has never registered before – fresh registration
– A child who has attained the age of 18-yrs or more – fresh registration
– A voter who has lost his permanent voter card – replacement
– A voter whose PVC had been defaced – replacement
A voter whose PVC has been lost – replacement.
Speaking further, he urged everyone in the listed categories to endeavour to register and collect their voters cards, adding that NO PVC. NO VOTING, he also related the special provisions made for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), added that INEC remains committed to an inclusive electoral process in line with the Electoral Act 2022 and the International best practices.
He announced the sensitisation programme carried out by INEC Osun State through Advocacies and with appearances on different Radio and Television programs, religious organizations, both Christians and Muslims, market places, the traditional rulers, civil societies organizations and security agencies, among others.
Dr Agboke implored Osun residents to come out to register accordingly, adding that they must prevent their children or wards, who are underage or minor from the registration. “If such underage should register and apprehended, such is punishable under the Electoral Act. We all must equally be vigilant to prevent foreigners from participating in the CVR.”
He used the medium to urge the youths and general public, to shun violence, refuse to be used as agent of destruction, fake news and other electoral malpractices, while he also appealed to political parties and other major stakeholders that the menace of vote buying and violence must not be allowed in electioneering processes.
Giving clarification to questions asked by some of the stakeholders, he pointed out collaboration with security organisations to ensure hitch free Continuous Voters Registration and the election proper in 2026.
The Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Dr Mutiu Olaleke Agboke emphasised the unwavering commitment of INEC in Osun state to transparency, fairness, and professionalism. He added that all available technology for the CVR, that is Inec Voter Enrolment Device (IVED), as well as Bimodal voter Accreditation System (BVAS) shall be deployed appropriately. “We shall continue to engage with all the stakeholders, and update members of the public of various developments and make available credible information at every stage of our activities.
Stakeholders at the Expanded Stakeholders Engagement include: the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Heads of other Security Agencies, State Director National Orientation Agency, Osun state, The State Chairman Inter Party Advisory Council, The Administrative Secretary INEC, Heads of Departments, Electoral Officers, Representative of Political Parties, Representative of Religious Institutions, Members of the Civil Society organizations, People Living with Disabilities, Religious Leaders, Media among others.