Osun 2026: INEC rules out manual accreditation

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that only the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be used to accredit voters during the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, ruling out any form of manual accreditation.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the announcement on Thursday in Osogbo at the signing of the Osun Governorship Election Peace Accord, organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) and attended by political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

Amupitan said the commission had substantially completed preparations for the poll, noting that seven of the nine scheduled electoral activities had already been concluded. According to him, the election will be conducted across 30 local government areas, the Modakeke Area Office, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units.
He disclosed that Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters following the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) exercise, adding that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been extended until July 31.
Addressing recent incidents involving stolen uncollected PVCs in Okuku and Ife Central, the INEC chairman assured voters that the cards could not be used without successful biometric verification through BVAS.
He added that the commission could blacklist the serial numbers of the stolen cards, while affected voters would either receive replacements or be permitted to use digital PVC verification.
To strengthen the electoral process, Amupitan revealed that INEC had deployed 4,427 BVAS devices, including 664 backup units, and said polling unit results would be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after voting.
He also stressed that security arrangements had shifted from reactive monitoring to intelligence-led operations coordinated through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), pledging adequate protection for voters, election officials and electoral materials.
Speaking at the event, National Peace Committee Chairman, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, urged political parties to honour the peace accord and conduct themselves peacefully throughout the election.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasugba assured residents of adequate security, stating that the Nigeria Police Force would remain neutral and ensure a credible election. He also clarified that the Amotekun Corps and vigilante groups would not participate in election security operations.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke used the occasion to raise concerns over the alleged arrest of more than 60 members of his political camp, including Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye. He appealed to the National Peace Committee, the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Tinubu to facilitate their return to Osun for trial while reaffirming his commitment to peaceful and credible elections.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, also urged residents to reject violence, advising voters to cast their ballots peacefully and return home after voting.
The ceremony concluded with participating political parties signing the Peace Accord ahead of the governorship election.