By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
OSOGBO – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared that it will deal decisively with anyone attempting to undermine the August 15 Osun State governorship election, warning that election violence, ballot disruption and vote buying will attract the full weight of the law.
The assurance came on Thursday as the Commission joined the National Peace Committee (NPC), security agencies, traditional rulers and the 14 political parties participating in the election to sign a Peace Accord in Osogbo.
Addressing stakeholders at the event, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), said the Commission had concluded virtually all preparations for the governorship poll, with only the end of campaigns on August 13 and the conduct of the election on August 15 left on its timetable.
He said the election would be conducted across 30 Local Government Areas and the Modakeke Area Office, involving 332 Registration Areas and 3,763 Polling Units, while a total of 2,339,233 eligible voters had been certified for the exercise after the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) verification.
According to the INEC chairman, over 322,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters, have already been collected. He added that PVC collection at all Local Government offices had been extended until July 31 to allow more eligible voters to obtain their cards.
Amupitan expressed concern over reports of rising political tension and isolated incidents of violence in parts of the state, stressing that the Commission would not allow intimidation or insecurity to compromise the credibility of the election.
He disclosed that INEC had strengthened collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), adopting intelligence-driven security operations to safeguard voters, election officials and sensitive materials before, during and after the poll.
The chairman also reassured the public over the theft of some uncollected PVCs in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Ife Central, saying the stolen cards could not be used because accreditation is strictly tied to live biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He revealed that the affected PVCs had been blacklisted, while security agencies were pursuing those responsible. He added that affected voters would receive replacement cards or be allowed to use digital verification PVCs.
Amupitan further disclosed that INEC had activated its Electoral Risk Management framework to identify flashpoints and deploy resources accordingly.
He listed Atakumosa East and West, Boripe, Ede North and South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade Local Government Areas as locations that would receive enhanced security deployment because of identified security risks.
On vote buying, the INEC chairman said the Commission was partnering with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to monitor polling environments.
He warned that both buyers and sellers of votes would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
To ensure a seamless electoral process, Amupitan said INEC had configured 4,427 BVAS machines, including reserve devices, while all polling unit results would be uploaded electronically to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after voting.
He also announced that a statewide mock accreditation exercise would be held on August 1 across 12 Local Government Areas to test the Commission’s operational readiness.
The INEC chairman said special arrangements had been made to ensure inclusive participation, including the deployment of Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, hearing-impaired information materials and priority voting for persons with disabilities, pregnant women and elderly voters.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), Cardinal John Onaiyekan urged political parties and their supporters to abide by the Peace Accord and embrace issue-based campaigns.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General Fasuba Akinyele Olabode assured residents that adequate security personnel would be deployed across the state and pledged that officers would remain impartial throughout the electoral process.
Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, commended INEC’s preparations and urged political actors to place the peace and stability of Osun State above partisan interests.
The event was attended by the Osun State Governor, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), INEC National Commissioners, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations and representatives of security agencies.
After the Peace Accord signing, Prof. Amupitan visited the INEC offices in Osogbo and Ede South Local Government Areas to assess the Commission’s level of preparedness for the election.
