The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned individuals planning to disrupt the August 15 governorship election in Osun State or engage in vote buying that they will face prosecution.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the warning in Osogbo during the signing of the National Peace Committee’s Peace Accord by the 14 political parties participating in the election, alongside security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
Amupitan said the commission had successfully completed 11 of the 13 activities outlined in its election timetable, leaving only the close of campaigns on August 13 and the election itself.
He said, “We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force. Insecurity is a direct assault on the sanctity of the ballot.”
According to him, INEC will deploy officials across the state’s 30 local government areas, the Modakeke Area Office, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units to ensure a smooth exercise.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the certified voter register contains 2,339,233 eligible voters following the Automated Biometric Identification System exercise. He added that 322,822 Permanent Voter Cards, representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters, have been collected.
He announced that PVC collection at all local government offices has been extended until Friday, July 31, to enable more eligible voters to obtain their cards.
Expressing concern over reported security threats in parts of the state, Amupitan said INEC had strengthened collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
He stated, “Any attempt to disrupt the election will be met with the full weight of the law.”
On the recent theft of uncollected PVCs in parts of Osun State, the INEC chairman assured residents that the stolen cards could not be used because accreditation requires live biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
He said, “The stolen cards are functionally inert. Their serial numbers are being blacklisted, security agencies are closing in on the perpetrators, while affected voters are being issued replacement cards or authorised to download digital verification PVCs.”
Amupitan also identified Atakumosa East and West, Boripe, Ede North and South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade local government areas as flashpoints where additional security personnel would be deployed.
He further warned politicians and voters against vote buying, revealing that INEC would work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to deploy undercover operatives around polling units.
According to him, “Anyone caught buying or selling votes, whether through cash or digital transfers, will be arrested and prosecuted under the Electoral Act 2026.”
The INEC chairman said the commission had configured 4,427 BVAS machines, including a 15 per cent reserve, for the election.
He added that polling unit results would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal immediately after voting, while a statewide mock accreditation exercise would take place on August 1 across 12 local government areas.
He also assured that assistive devices, including Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses and priority voting arrangements, would be provided for persons with disabilities, pregnant women and elderly voters.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), Cardinal John Onaiyekan urged political parties to honour the peace accord.
He said, “This accord is more than a ceremonial ritual. Political parties must conduct their campaigns peacefully and honour both the spirit and the letter of the agreement.”
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Fasuba Akinyele Olabode assured residents that adequate security personnel would be deployed and pledged that officers would remain neutral throughout the election.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, also appealed to political actors to shun violence, stressing that the peace and stability of Osun State should take precedence over partisan interests.
He said, “Osun State is greater than the interests of any individual or political party.”
