INEC says Osun is ‘Rehearsal’ for 2027, Vows Crackdown on Vote Buying ahead August 15 Governorship Election
By Abisola Ariwodola,
Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has described Osun State Governorship poll as a “critical rehearsal” for 2027 elections under the leadership of Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN.
The Commission described the election as a test of improvements in voter education, technology, result management, and stakeholder engagement, while it vows crackdown on Vote Buying Ahead of August 15 Osun Gubernatorial Election.
Speaking in his keynote address, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna made the disclosure at the INEC Media Stakeholders’ Forum: For Media Executives, Producers, Reporters and On-Air Personalities, ahead of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, held in Osogbo, the state capital.
INEC said it will deploy its full electoral technology: the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, for voter accreditation and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, for real-time result transmission. The Commission cited Ekiti’s 96% BVAS functionality and 98% IReV completion as benchmarks it intends to meet or exceed.
The Commission also added that it will work with security agencies to check vote buying ahead of the Osun State Governorship Election, while describing vote buying as the “single most alarming development” from Ekiti and the “most urgent challenge” for Osun. It referenced reports of cash distribution and numbered vouchers redeemable outside polling units.
Citing Section 22 of the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission warned that vote trading attracts a fine of not less than N5 million, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both, plus a 10-year disqualification from public office.
“We are asking the media to treat vote buying not as a background note, but as a frontline investigative priority,” INEC said, urging reporters to document names, locations, amounts, and coordination structures.
INEC added that the Commission is working with the EFCC, Nigeria Police Force, and DSS to investigate and prosecute offenders, the National Commissioner and Chairman on IVEC maintained that “You do not need money to vote. It is an offence for the seller and the buyer. We need to keep educating the electorate that they should not mortgage their future because of money.” Vote buying is an assault on sovereignty, When a vote is bought, They lose four years of accountable governance. They lose their voice,” INEC said.
Addressing the media on the Commission’s preparedness, INEC through Mallam Haruna stated that the off-cycle poll, like Ekiti’s, is taking place outside the regular national calendar but carries “heightened national attention” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to INEC, Osun has over 2.3 million registered voters. A total of 381,817 new registrants were added during the Continuous Voter Registration phase, bringing CVR applications to 499,809.
Fourteen political parties, including the incumbent governor, have cleared candidates. The election will hold across all 30 Local Government Areas of the state.
Declaring it’s readiness INEC stated that it is “fully committed to conducting a free, fair, credible, and peaceful” election and will remain accountable to the media and the public through the process. No PVC, No Voting, INEC reiterated as it urged voters to collect their PVCs.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Osun state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola called on media practitioners to sustain professionalism and accuracy ahead of the August 15, 2026 Governorship Election.
She described the media as an “indispensable partner” of the Commission in promoting democratic values through objective reporting, public enlightenment, and timely dissemination of electoral information.
According to the REC, the engagement was designed to foster constructive interaction with the media community on the role of the press, emerging issues, effective communication strategies, and other areas critical to a peaceful, transparent, and credible poll.
“The media is not only a channel for information dissemination but also a key stakeholder in shaping public perception, promoting issue-based campaigns, combating misinformation and disinformation, and encouraging citizens’ confidence and participation in the electoral process,” Babalola said.
She added that as the Commission prepares for the election, it is counting on the “continued professionalism, fairness, and commitment” of journalists in the state. She noted that media reportage and public engagement would be vital in ensuring voters are well informed and that the electoral environment remains peaceful.
The Osun REC assured that INEC remains open to “constructive feedback and collaboration” to improve its processes and deliver an election that meets the expectations of Osun people and Nigerians, and She urged participants to actively contribute ideas and perspectives to achieve the objectives of the dialogue.
Assuring the media executives of a transparent, free, fair, and credible election, she added that the August 15 poll will hold across Osun’s 30 LGAs, with INEC deploying BVAS for accreditation and IReV for real-time result transmission.