As preparations intensify for the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, commissioned two key facilities at the Osun State INEC office—the INEC Decides Studio and a BVAS Storage Facility—designed to enhance election communication and safeguard critical electoral technology.
The projects, initiated by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, are aimed at providing a dedicated media centre for interviews and ensuring the secure storage of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.
Following the commissioning, Prof. Amupitan met with Electoral Officers from the 30 Local Government Areas of the state. The REC, Mrs. Babalola, and the Supervising National Commissioner for Osun State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, assured the INEC Chairman that the Commission was fully prepared, committed and determined to deliver a free, fair and conclusive election on August 15, pledging that the staff would not disappoint Nigerians.
Addressing the Electoral Officers, Prof. Amupitan commended their resilience and reminded them that they are the Commission’s frontline representatives whose actions would shape public confidence in the election.
He stressed the importance of the early opening of polling units, warning that delays would attract consequences, while exceptional performance would be rewarded. He assured staff that the Commission remained committed to their welfare and infrastructure development across the country.
The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission would continue engaging stakeholders, including the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), to guarantee the security of personnel and election materials. He further cautioned against misinformation and disinformation, urging officials to remain professional and ensure that the Osun governorship election sets a higher standard than previous off-cycle elections.
