INEC Osun Pledges Credible, Inclusive Governorship Election as REC Meets CSOs
By Abisola Ariwodola,
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin O. Babalola, has assured Civil Society Groups that the Commission is on track to deliver a free, fair, credible, and inclusive governorship election on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.
Speaking at a consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations, Community-Based Organisations, and Faith-Based Organisations at the Olusegun Agbaje Media Centre in Osogbo, Babalola said the engagement was “timely and strategic” as preparations intensify.
She described CSOs, CBOs, and FBOs as “indispensable partners with Independent National Electoral Commission INEC” on voter education, election observation, advocacy for peaceful elections, and mobilizing citizens, especially women, youths, Persons with Disabilities, and first-time voters.
Babalola disclosed that seven of the thirteen activities in the timetable for the election have been concluded, such as the publication of the notice of election, conduct of party primaries, nomination of candidates, publication of candidates’ personal particulars, and release of the final list of nominated candidates.
She pointed the ongoing activities to include public campaigns by political parties, and added that upcoming milestones are the submission of names of polling agents by June 23, publication of the official register of voters on July 22, publication of the notice of poll on July 24, end of campaigns on Aug. 13, and the election on Aug. 15.
The Osun REC said the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, held in two phases between Aug. 25, 2025, and May 3, 2026, increased Osun’s registered voters from 1,954,800 to 2,454,609.
That the exercise recorded 381,817 fresh registrations, 1,391 new PWD registrations, 50,747 transfers, 7,272 updates, 42,355 replacements for lost or damaged PVCs, and 14,362 reviews. Distribution of uncollected PVCs was carried out alongside the CVR.
According to her, “INEC plans to recruit 16,025 ad-hoc staff for the election through the INECPRES portal. Roles include 3,763 Presiding Officers, 11,289 Assistant Presiding Officers, 376 Supervisory Presiding Officers, and collation officers at ward, LGA, and state levels.
She highlighted that there was a train-the-trainers programme for LG training officers held on May 7, while eight weeks of robust training for NYSC members serving as poll officials has commenced. Technical training for electoral officers is scheduled for July 6-10, with training for security personnel, SPOs, POs, and collation officers running through August.
Speaking of the election day, she maintained that a total of 97 Super RACs and 105 RACs will be used to camp officials for early deployment, while Two sets of voters’ registers will be printed for pasting at polling units and for accreditation.
Babalola also confirmed that 3,763 BVAS devices will be deployed to all polling units, with 664 kept as backups. The devices will be used for voter accreditation and for uploading polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal to enhance transparency.
To address voter apathy, INEC is collaborating with stakeholders to run inclusive sensitization on Voter education drive to marginalized groups and others, for women, youths, and PWDs through radio, TV, social media, street shows, market outreaches, visits to traditional and faith-based institutions, and town hall meetings.
Stressing that Faith and community-based NGOs have been engaged to conduct grassroots sensitization across LGAs, she added that Media accreditation will open soon and close two weeks before the election. Regular press briefings will be held to keep the public informed.
Babalola urged the CSOs to support voter education, PVC collection, advocacy against vote-buying and electoral violence, and the promotion of issue-based campaigns. She stressed that “elections should never be seen as a battlefield, but as a democratic avenue for citizens to peacefully express their choices.”
Similarly, she reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to neutrality, professionalism, and accountability, adding that partnership with civil society was key to the August 15 peaceful and credible election in Osun state.
In the discuss session, the CSOs representatives: the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Chairman Dr Adeyemi Aboderin, Coalition of Concerned Citizens, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Network of Non-govermental Organisations NETNOS, Society for Life Changers and Good Parental Care SOLIFE, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, National Council for Women Societies NCWS, RELFOND, and others assured the new Osun REC of the needed supports.
They also urged her to ensure collaboration with stakeholders, media cooperation, consistent engagement with stakeholders, safe and accessible voting environment, gender sensitive polling units for aged, pregnant women and nursing mothers, Persons with Disabilities PWDs friendly arrangements, and proactive coordination with security operatives