INEC ASSURES STAKEHOLDERS OF FREE, FAIR OSUN GUBERNATORIAL POLL

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured stakeholders that the outcome of the August 15 Osun State governorship election will reflect the genuine will of the electorate.

The commission also pledged to conduct the election in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The assurance was given by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, during a multi-stakeholder roundtable on legal compliance and electoral integrity held in Osogbo on Thursday.

The event was organised by the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative.

Responding to concerns raised by participants, Babalola said adherence to electoral laws remains the strongest safeguard against disputes and irregularities.

She stressed that electoral integrity depends not only on credible voting procedures but also on the conduct of all stakeholders before, during, and after elections.

The REC assured political parties, civil society groups, and other stakeholders that INEC remains committed to delivering a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive governorship election in Osun State.

According to her, the commission will continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with professionalism, neutrality, and integrity to ensure the election truly reflects the wishes of the people.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative and South-West Coordinator of the Youth Electoral Reform Project, Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, said lessons from the recent Ekiti State governorship election highlighted important areas requiring improvement ahead of the Osun poll.

She explained that the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to review the implementation of the 2026 Electoral Act, identify gaps observed during the Ekiti election, and develop measures to strengthen transparency, credibility, and inclusiveness in Osun.

Aladejare-Salako noted that although the Ekiti election recorded some positive outcomes, it exposed shortcomings in the mandatory electronic transmission of election results from polling units, a process required under the Electoral Act.

She warned that while the law provides alternatives in cases of genuine communication failure, such exceptions should not become standard practice.

She urged INEC and other election management bodies to make firm commitments to implementing the Electoral Act faithfully and ensuring that the Osun governorship election meets the highest standards of electoral integrity.