OSUN 2026: VOTERS TURN OUT AS INEC COMMENCES GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials for the 2026 Osun State governorship election ahead of Saturday’s poll.

At the CAC Grammar School registration centre in Araromi, Osogbo, polling officials were already arriving to collect election materials and proceed to their assigned polling units across the state.

A total of 2,339,233 registered voters are expected to participate in the election, with candidates from 15 political parties on the ballot.

The final inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered on July 22, 2026.

INEC National Commissioner supervising Osun State, Kunle Ajayi, said the commission had to work under intense pressure after the court ruling came shortly before the election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Ajayi said INEC printed millions of ballot papers and result sheets within 36 hours to accommodate the court-ordered addition of the SDP.

“In spite of the fact that the thing came late, we were able to print all ballot papers, millions, within 36 hours, because hours had no meaning to us anymore. Days had no meaning to us anymore.

“We were working day and night as if it were day. So, we were able to complete the printing, and we moved all the materials, all the sensitive materials, ballots, everything, to the Central Bank yesterday, late last night,” Ajayi said.

He explained that the commission first secured a certified copy of the judgment before taking steps to implement the order.

According to him, despite the limited time available, INEC successfully moved the sensitive materials from Abuja to the Central Bank and subsequently distributed them to all 30 local government areas in Osun State.

“Because of that judgment, we moved from Abuja to the Central Bank very late. But in spite of that, we were able to distribute to all the 30 local governments without missing any and without any issue on the road. We finished about 5 am this morning to distribute the materials to the local government,” he said.

Ajayi also rejected claims that the ballot papers were produced outside the country, stressing that INEC had continued to work with reputable Nigerian printing companies since the 2023 general elections.

INEC ASSURES VOTERS OF RESULT TRANSMISSION

The electoral commission also assured voters that results from polling units would be uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal, IReV.

Ajayi said results would be transmitted as soon as they were completed at individual polling units, although internet connectivity and the volume of information being uploaded could affect how quickly they appeared on the platform.

“As they are doing the analysis at the polling units, they will be transmitted to the IReV. That is all I know,” he said.

He, however, clarified that IReV was created mainly to display polling-unit results and was not designed to calculate or collate the overall election figures.

“The IReV is not an adding machine. It’s not an adding system. The IReV is meant for the display of results from the PUs. That is what IReV is meant for,” Ajayi clarified.

INEC: POLLS WILL OPEN BY 8:30AM

Ajayi further declared that the commission was fully prepared for the election and assured voters that polling units would open as scheduled.

“I want to state categorically that we are absolutely ready for this election, 100%, not even 99.5%, 100% ready,” he said.

Asked about the commencement of voting, he added, “Polls will open early. By 8:30, it will open.”

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, across the state’s 30 local government areas.

The poll was originally fixed for August 8 but was later shifted, with the addition of the SDP candidate bringing the number of participating political parties from 14 to 15.

The election is being closely monitored as one of the major off-cycle elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

President Bola Tinubu has urged voters to participate peacefully and called on INEC and security agencies to ensure that the exercise is free, fair, transparent and credible.

He also tasked security agencies with protecting voters and electoral officials from intimidation while encouraging eligible residents to perform their civic duties.

POLICE IMPOSE MOVEMENT RESTRICTION

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has announced restrictions on movement across Osun State as part of measures to maintain security during the election.

Movement is restricted from midnight on Friday, August 14, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The Force also reiterated that the Amotekun Corps and other non-state security groups would not be permitted to participate in election security operations.

Force Public Relations Officer at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

The police said election-related security and law-enforcement duties would be handled exclusively by security agencies recognised and established under the Constitution and laws of Nigeria.

With election materials now distributed to the state’s 30 local government areas and officials moving towards their respective polling units, attention has shifted to the commencement of voting and the conduct of the election across Osun State.