Ballot Box Wil Determine Osun Election Not Bullets – INEC

The Chairman of the Independent Nationa Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Osun residents that the outcome of the August 15 governorship election will be determined by votes rather than violence, as the commission announced a two-day extension of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection.

Speaking at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo on Wednesday, Amupitan said INEC had concluded its readiness assessment across the state’s 30 local government areas and was fully prepared to conduct a credible election in line with the Electoral Act 2026.

“The ballot box, not the bullet, will decide the future of Osun State. We will not allow the will of the electorate to be subverted by violence or intimidation,” Amupitan said.

He disclosed that 2,339,233 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election across 3,763 polling units, with 14 political parties fielding candidates.

On PVC collection, the INEC chairman said 322,822 newly registered voters, representing about 60 per cent, had collected their cards as of Tuesday, prompting the commission to extend the exercise until Friday, July 31.

“In view of the shortfall, the Commission has extended the PVC collection window to Friday, 31 July 2026, to accommodate voters yet to collect their cards,” he said.

Amupitan added that security agencies would deploy patrol teams to PVC collection centres to ensure the exercise was conducted safely.

He said 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, including backup units, had been configured for the election, while a mock accreditation exercise would hold on August 1 across selected local government areas.

“Voting will commence at 8.30 a.m. on election day, and Electoral Officers whose local governments fail to commence accreditation by that time will be held accountable,” he warned.

On security, Amupitan said INEC had activated an Electoral Risk Management framework and identified several flashpoints, including Atakunmosa East and West, Boripe, Ede North and South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila and Ifelodun, for enhanced deployment.

He also confirmed recent attacks on INEC offices in Odo Otin and Ife Centre, during which batches of uncollected PVCs were stolen.

“The stolen PVCs have been rendered unusable without live biometric verification of the legitimate owner on the BVAS.

Affected voters will be issued reprinted or downloadable PVCs,” he said.

The INEC chairman said the commission had introduced measures to assist vulnerable voters, including braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses for voters with low vision, and priority queues for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly.

He added that INEC was working with the EFCC, ICPC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to combat vote buying, including digital financial inducements.

Amupitan also announced that the 14 political parties would sign a peace accord on July 30 under the auspices of the National Peace Committee and the Inter-Party Advisory Council.

Earlier, Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the commission had completed 11 of the 13 activities on its election timetable.

“All non-sensitive election materials have arrived in the Local Government Areas and have been sorted and batched for onward distribution, while sensitive materials are securely kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo,” she said.

She added that ad hoc staff training would run from July 31 to August 9, while accreditation of journalists would close on August 2.

“We call on political parties to educate their supporters, candidates to reject violence, community leaders to preach peace, and the media to report responsibly as we remain committed to transparency, professionalism, neutrality and inclusivity,” Babalola said.

Also speaking, Osun State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, representing the Inspector-General of Police, assured residents that security agencies would remain impartial throughout the election.

“The Nigeria Police Force will remain neutral, professional and committed to safeguarding lives, property and the integrity of the governorship election.

Anyone caught engaging in vote buying or other electoral offences will be arrested and prosecuted, regardless of political affiliation or social status,” he said.