Osun 2026: Adeleke Campaign Warns INEC Against Electoral Manipulation, Raises Ten Red Flags Ahead Of Governorship Poll

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address what it described as recurring electoral lapses ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election, warning that failure to do so could undermine the credibility of the poll.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the Director-General of the campaign council, Senator Kamarudeen Olalere Oyewumi, said the concerns were based on reports from accredited election observer groups, independent reviews by the council's Election Surveillance Team and experiences shared by voters during recent elections across the country.

According to Oyewumi, the observations were drawn from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, the Ekiti State governorship election and the June 20 bye-elections held in Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers, Kano and Kebbi states.

He said the campaign was raising the issues early to enable INEC and relevant authorities to take corrective measures before the Osun governorship election.

"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," Oyewumi said.

Among the concerns raised by the campaign council was the alleged deployment of insufficient ballot papers and other sensitive election materials during previous elections, which it said led to delayed voting, voter disenfranchisement and confusion at several polling units.

The council urged INEC to publicly account for the quantity of ballot papers deployed to each polling unit, strengthen the chain of custody for sensitive materials and establish real-time reporting mechanisms to address shortages during voting.

The campaign also expressed concern over alleged distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to suspected mercenary voters before recent elections, citing viral videos from previous off-cycle polls. It said INEC had yet to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the incidents and warned that Osun residents would resist any attempt to manipulate the election through unlawful voter mobilisation.

It further referenced reports of allegedly thumbprinted ballot papers being issued to voters during the Ekiti governorship and FCT council elections, urging the electoral commission to ensure that all ballot papers and result sheets deployed for the Osun poll remain secure and free from tampering.

The campaign council also criticised what it described as administrative errors in previous elections, including reports that political parties without candidates appeared on ballot papers and result sheets, saying such mistakes could confuse voters and compromise the integrity of election results.

On election technology, TICC called on INEC to thoroughly test and deploy fully functional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, noting that observer reports highlighted accreditation difficulties, particularly for elderly voters, during recent elections.

It also cited reports from election observers alleging that some individuals voted without presenting Permanent Voter Cards during the Ekiti governorship election, describing the practice as a violation of the Electoral Act and a threat to electoral credibility.

The campaign referred to findings by election observer group Yiaga Africa, which reportedly identified vote-buying, BVAS-related challenges, poor handling of sensitive materials, breaches of ballot secrecy and lapses in results management during the Ekiti governorship election.

According to the council, INEC should treat those observations as an early warning and implement safeguards to prevent similar occurrences in Osun.

TICC also disclosed that its Election Surveillance and Data Analysis Unit had reviewed the Osun voters' register and found that many polling units have more than 1,000 registered voters. It urged INEC to deploy additional BVAS machines, election personnel and accreditation equipment to heavily populated polling units to prevent delays and voter disenfranchisement.

The campaign further alleged that it had received reports of "boastful statements" by some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) claiming that BVAS machines would be preloaded ahead of the election and that extra result sheets had been illegally printed.

While providing no evidence to substantiate the claims, the campaign urged INEC and security agencies to investigate the allegations, audit all BVAS devices and election materials, and reassure the public that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent electoral manipulation.

Oyewumi maintained that the press conference was not intended to undermine confidence in INEC but to encourage improvements in the electoral process.

He called on the electoral commission to address all identified concerns before August 15, while urging security agencies to remain neutral and professional throughout the election.

He also appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, assuring Osun residents that the Imole Campaign Council would continue to pursue lawful means to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

"The votes of Osun people must count, and every legitimate vote must be protected," Oyewumi said.