Osun 2026: Adeleke Campaign Council Raises Concerns Over Election Preparations, Urges INEC To Address Alleged Lapses

By Omonigho Abraham, Osogbo

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has raised concerns over the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the August 15, 2026 governorship election, urging the electoral body and security agencies to address what it described as lapses observed in recent elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo on Monday, the Director-General of the council, Senator Kamarudeen Olalere Oyewumi, said the concerns were informed by issues allegedly recorded during the 2026 FCT Area Council Election, the Ekiti State governorship election and the June 20 by-elections.

Oyewumi said public confidence remains the foundation of any credible electoral process, warning that any erosion of trust in elections could undermine democratic governance.

“The Imole Campaign Council firmly believes that elections derive their legitimacy from public confidence. Once citizens begin to lose faith in the integrity of the electoral process, democracy itself becomes endangered. It is against this background that we consider it a patriotic duty to raise these concerns now, while there is still sufficient time for the electoral umpire to address them,” he said.

The campaign council identified what it described as key shortcomings observed in previous elections, including the alleged deployment of insufficient ballot papers and other sensitive materials, reports of PVCs being issued to suspected mercenary voters, alleged distribution of pre-thumbprinted ballot papers, incorrect political party names on ballot papers and result sheets, and technical issues involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Other concerns listed by the council include reports of voting without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), alleged inadequate deployment of BVAS machines, claims of preloaded BVAS devices and illegal result sheets, findings by Yiaga Africa on vote-buying and result management, and what it described as a lack of transparency in the distribution of newly produced PVCs.

Oyewumi called on INEC, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to investigate the allegations and strengthen safeguards ahead of the Osun governorship election.

“In the light of these troubling indications, the Imole Campaign Council calls on INEC, security agencies and all relevant authorities to urgently investigate these boasts, secure and audit all BVAS devices and result sheets, and publicly reassure the people of Osun State that robust safeguards are in place to prevent any form of tampering or pre-programming that could compromise the sanctity of the August 15, 2026 governorship election,” he said.

The council also referenced findings by election observer group Yiaga Africa on vote-buying and result management and urged INEC to ensure adequate deployment of BVAS machines to more than 2,500 polling units in the state with over 500 registered voters.

Oyewumi further alleged that some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had made statements suggesting plans to manipulate the electoral process through preloaded BVAS machines and illegally printed result sheets, urging the electoral commission and security agencies to investigate the claims.

“We have been inundated with boastful statements reportedly made by some Osun APC leaders about preloading BVAS machines ahead of the governorship election in the state.
These statements, if true, strike at the heart of electronic accreditation and suggest a predetermined outcome rather than the genuine will of the people,” he said.

On voter participation, the campaign council urged INEC to decentralise the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards to the ward level and extend collection to weekends to enable the state’s 381,817 newly registered voters to obtain their PVCs before election day.

Oyewumi also appealed to security agencies to remain neutral, professional and vigilant throughout the electoral process, while calling on political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.

Note: The allegations and concerns raised in the press conference are those of the Imole Campaign Council. INEC, the APC and the security agencies mentioned had not responded to the claims as of the time this report was filed.