Osun 2026: INEC insists BVAS sole accreditation method as parties sign peace accord

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, has declared that there will be no manual accreditation during the Osun State governorship election, insisting that biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, remained the only statutory method for accrediting voters.

Amupitan made the declaration on Thursday in Osogbo during the formal signing of the Osun State Governorship Election Peace Accord ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship poll. 

The event was organised by the National Peace Committee, NPC, and attended by political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

The INEC chairman assured residents that the commission had reached an advanced stage of preparedness for the election, stating that seven out of the nine activities in the election timetable had already been completed.

He disclosed that voting would take place across 30 local government areas, the Modakeke Area Office, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units.

According to him, “the certified register of voters, after the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) exercise, stands at 2,339,233 eligible voters while PVC collection at local government offices had been extended until Friday, 31 July, to enable more registered voters collect their cards before the election.”

Amupitan also addressed recent security incidents involving the theft of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Ife Central.

He assured the public that the stolen PVCs could not be used for voting because they require live biometric verification through BVAS before accreditation.

“Since biometric verification via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) remains the sole statutory mechanism for accreditation, there will be no manual accreditation. Without live biometric verification on the BVAS, a stolen card cannot accredit anyone,” he said.

The INEC chairman who disclosed that serial numbers of the stolen PVCs could be blacklisted, while security agencies were pursuing those responsible added that affected voters would receive replacement cards or be authorised to use digital verification PVC downloads.

He revealed that the commission had customised 4,427 BVAS devices for Osun State, including 664 backup units representing a 15 per cent operational reserve and explained that all polling unit result sheets, known as Form EC8A, would be scanned and uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, immediately after voting concludes.

Expressing concern over reports of political violence and insecurity, Amupitan said INEC had shifted from reactive monitoring to proactive prevention through intelligence-led security operations coordinated by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES.

“We will not allow the democratic will of the people be subverted by fear or force. Security agencies would protect voters, election officials and electoral materials throughout the exercise,” he added.

The Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, urged political parties to respect both the spirit and letter of the Peace Accord. 

He stressed that elections would come and go, but peace and stability must remain, while calling on INEC and security agencies to remain impartial and professional throughout the electoral process.

Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasugba of Zone XI Command assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force was fully prepared to secure the election. 

He said additional police personnel had begun arriving in Osun and pledged that the police would remain neutral to ensure a free, fair, credible and transparent election. 

He also stated that Amotekun Corps and vigilante groups would not be deployed for election security duties.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed concern over the harassment and arrest of members of his Accord, alleging that over 60 party members, including the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, had been detained. 

He appealed to the National Peace Committee to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to return those detained in Abuja for trial in Osun, while also calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene. Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful, free and fair elections.

Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, urged residents to reject violence and protect the state’s reputation for peace. 

He said, “Osun State is bigger than any individual. Do not let anybody buy your conscience. Whatever you choose to vote, vote that person and go back home peacefully. We do not want violence.”

The high point of the event was the formal signing of the Peace Accord by the participating political parties.