The campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a transparent and credible governorship election in the state, raising concerns over the handling of voter accreditation, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution and the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The Imole Campaign Council, which is coordinating Adeleke’s re-election bid, said lessons should be learnt from what it described as shortcomings recorded during some recent off-cycle elections across the country.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, the Director-General of the council, Lere Oyewumi, urged the electoral commission to take proactive steps to prevent any lapses that could undermine public confidence in the August 15 governorship election.
Oyewumi alleged that recent elections in several states exposed weaknesses in the electoral process, particularly in the areas of voter registration, accreditation and election materials.
According to him, reports from off-cycle and by-elections in Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa and Ekiti states indicated that individuals suspected to be mercenary voters were issued Permanent Voter Cards shortly before election day.
He said such allegations, if not properly addressed, could raise questions about the integrity of future elections.
Oyewumi also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate deployment of ballot papers and other sensitive election materials during some recent polls.
He further alleged that already thumb-printed ballot papers were distributed during the 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
Although he did not present evidence to support the allegation, he called on INEC to ensure that such incidents do not occur during the Osun election.
The campaign council also raised concerns over the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the electronic device introduced by INEC to verify voters through fingerprints and facial recognition before they are allowed to vote.
According to Oyewumi, technical challenges reportedly affected the use of BVAS during the Ekiti governorship election and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
He argued that any malfunction of the system during voting could delay the process, discourage voters and affect the credibility of the election.
The council further alleged that during elections held in Anambra, Ekiti and the FCT, some political parties that did not field candidates still appeared on ballot papers and result sheets.
Oyewumi said such errors could confuse voters and create avoidable controversies during elections.
He also reacted to reports allegedly circulating within political circles in Osun State regarding the possible manipulation of BVAS machines.
“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,” he said.
According to him, if such claims are true, they would undermine the credibility of the electronic accreditation system and cast doubt on the integrity of the election.
“This claim, if true, strikes at the heart of electronic accreditation and suggests a predetermined outcome rather than the genuine will of the people,” he added.
Oyewumi also expressed concern over the ongoing distribution of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards by INEC ahead of the election.
He urged the electoral commission to ensure that the exercise is conducted openly and fairly.
“We have been notified about the commencement of the distribution of new PVCs by INEC. However, we have serious concerns about the transparency of the process, and we hereby warn that any move to disenfranchise Osun voters by withholding their PVCs will not be tolerated,” he said.
He insisted that PVC collection should be transparent and should not allow collection by proxy.
According to the campaign council, ensuring that eligible voters receive their voter cards without discrimination is essential to guaranteeing free and fair participation in the election.
Despite raising the concerns, Oyewumi said the council was not attempting to discredit INEC or weaken public confidence in the electoral process.
Rather, he said the observations were intended to encourage improvements that would strengthen democracy.
“The Osun governorship election presents another important opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate that democratic institutions can continue to improve and inspire public confidence,” he said.
He described the people of Osun State as politically aware and committed to democratic values.
According to him, voters in the state expect an election that is peaceful, transparent and capable of reflecting the true wishes of the electorate.
“The people of Osun are peaceful, politically conscious and deeply committed to democracy.
“They expect nothing short of a free, fair, transparent and credible election that faithfully reflects the wishes of the electorate.”
The campaign council therefore urged INEC to carefully consider all the issues it raised and implement necessary corrective measures before the governorship election.
“We therefore call on INEC to treat these observations with the seriousness they deserve and implement all necessary corrective measures before August 15,” Oyewumi said.
The Osun governorship election is expected to be one of Nigeria’s major off-cycle elections and is already attracting national attention.
Governor Adeleke, who was elected in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is seeking another term in office.
The election is expected to be keenly contested, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) expected to field a strong candidate in its bid to regain control of the state.
INEC has repeatedly assured political parties and Nigerians that it remains committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections.
The commission has continued to improve the use of technology, including BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), to increase transparency and reduce electoral fraud.
However, challenges involving logistics, technical failures and allegations of irregularities have continued to generate debate after several elections.
As preparations for the Osun governorship election gather momentum, stakeholders are expected to continue engaging with the electoral commission on ways to improve the conduct of the poll.