The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has received 95 per cent of the non-sensitive materials required for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, marking another milestone in its preparations for the poll.
The Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ engagement on the role of the media in promoting credible elections, organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Osogbo.
Babalola said the materials had already been distributed to the commission’s local government offices for batching and onward deployment to polling units, assuring residents that INEC remained on course to conduct a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election.
She explained that sensitive election materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, would be released during the week of the election in line with the commission’s operational guidelines.
The REC also disclosed that INEC had received all 3,763 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines required for the election, alongside 664 backup devices to address any technical issues that may arise on election day. She added that technical support staff would be stationed across all registration areas and local government areas to ensure seamless voter accreditation.
According to Babalola, the commission has made substantial progress in implementing its election timetable, with eight of the 13 scheduled activities already completed or currently underway. She noted that INEC had also brought forward the presentation of the official register of voters from July 22 to July 9 to provide stakeholders with earlier access to the document.
She said the commission had concluded the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, during which 381,870 voters registered, while 50,747 applications for voter transfer were processed, bringing the total number of applications handled to 499,809. She added that dates for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would soon be announced, with distribution beginning at registration areas before moving to local government offices.
Babalola further disclosed that INEC had intensified training for electoral officers, assistant electoral officers, local government training officers and other election personnel, while a three-day training programme for election security personnel is scheduled to commence next week.
She said the commission had also identified security flashpoints and difficult terrains across the state to strengthen operational planning and assist security agencies in deploying personnel effectively. Registration Area Centres (RACs), she added, would be activated on the eve of the election to accommodate election officials, inspect election materials and ensure the timely opening of polling units.
The REC highlighted INEC’s ongoing voter education campaigns through radio, television, online platforms and grassroots engagements, including targeted sensitisation programmes for young female voters and persons with disabilities.
She urged media organisations to complete the commission’s accreditation process before the August 2 deadline and called on journalists to provide accurate voter education, promote issue-based campaigns and counter misinformation and disinformation before, during and after the election.
Babalola stressed that the success of the Osun governorship election would require the collective efforts of INEC, the media, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and the electorate.
“INEC remains committed to openness, accountability and continuous engagement with the media. Together, through professionalism and responsible journalism, we can safeguard the integrity of the 2026 Osun governorship election,” she said.
