The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to political parties in Osun State to conduct peaceful, transparent, and law-abiding primaries ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, made the appeal on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Commission’s state office in Osogbo.
Dr Agboke said the engagement was part of INEC’s ongoing efforts to ensure that all stakeholders fully understand and comply with the election timetable and legal framework.
“We must always continue to engage you on each item on the timetable of the 2026 governorship election so as to be on the same page with us,” he said.
According to the timetable, political parties are to conduct their primaries between 24 November and 15 December 2025, in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Dr Agboke revealed that while 19 political parties are registered nationally, only 18 are currently active in Osun. He urged them to uphold internal democracy and minimise conflicts that could lead to pre-election disputes.
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“Free and fair polls begin with the way parties conduct themselves during primaries. Peaceful primaries promote democratic values and foster unity within parties,” he stressed.
He also warned that campaign activities have not yet commenced, citing Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act, which stipulates that campaigns should begin 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before the election.
Dr Agboke urged parties to consult INEC’s website for detailed guidelines on rallies, processions, and campaign activities. He further encouraged political leaders to engage in voter education, noting that some party members do not even recognise their party logos.
“Election is a multi-stakeholder task. INEC alone cannot deliver a successful poll. Political parties must cooperate with us and discourage violence and vote buying,” he said, warning that the menace of vote buying “has reduced the potency of our democratic value.”
He disclosed that as of 24 October 2025, a total of 151,593 registrants had completed their Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Osun State.
In his remarks, Osun State Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan assured residents of adequate security during the election and urged the public to report any cases of violence to police hotlines 08039537995 and 08123823987.
Also speaking, Pastor Victor Akande, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Osun, called for adherence to the rule of law, noting that peace and fairness are essential for democracy to thrive.
