INEC Warns Troublemakers, Unveil Enhanced Security Measures

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the 15 August Osun State governorship election will face the full weight of the law, as the Commission intensified preparations for the poll.

Amupitan issued the warning on Thursday in Osogbo during the signing of a Peace Accord by the National Peace Committee (NPC), security agencies, traditional rulers and the 14 political parties participating in the election.

He said INEC had completed 11 of the 13 activities on its election timetable, leaving only the end of campaigns on 13 August and the conduct of the election on 15 August.

According to him, the Commission will deploy personnel across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas and the Modakeke Area Office, covering 332 Registration Areas and 3,763 polling units.

He disclosed that the certified register contains 2,339,233 eligible voters, while 322,822 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters, had been collected.

PVC collection at local government offices, he added, had been extended until 31 July.

Expressing concern over reports of violence and intimidation, Amupitan said insecurity posed a serious threat to the credibility of the election.

“The Commission will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force,” he said.

The INEC chairman said the Commission had shifted from reactive security measures to proactive prevention through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), working closely with the Police and the Armed Forces.

He identified Atakumosa East and West, Boripe, Ede North and South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade as flashpoints that would receive enhanced security deployment.

Amupitan also warned against vote buying, revealing that INEC would work 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 deploy plainclothes financial intelligence officers around polling units.

“Anyone caught buying or selling votes, whether through cash or digital transfers, will be arrested and prosecuted under the Electoral Act 2026,” he warned.

The INEC chairman further announced that 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices had been configured for the election, while a statewide mock accreditation exercise would take place on 1 August across 12 local government areas.

He added that polling units would be equipped with assistive devices, including Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses and priority voting arrangements for persons with disabilities, pregnant women and the elderly.