The Imole Campaign Council, coordinating the re-election campaign of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address alleged electoral irregularities observed in recent off-cycle and by-elections across Nigeria ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15. The campaign council’s Director-General, Lere Oyewumi, raised these concerns during a press briefing in Osogbo on Monday, emphasizing the need for a credible, transparent, and secure electoral process.
Oyewumi highlighted serious issues that marred recent elections in Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa, and Ekiti states, including the issuance of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to suspected “mercenary voters” shortly before polling day. He also pointed to shortages of ballot papers and other critical election materials, particularly during the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, where pre-thumbprinted ballot papers were reportedly circulated. Technical failures in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were also cited as major setbacks during elections in Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council polls.
Further allegations included the inclusion of political parties that did not participate in certain elections on ballot papers and result sheets in Anambra, Ekiti, and the FCT. These irregularities, according to Oyewumi, undermine public confidence in the electoral process and threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy. He specifically raised alarm over claims by some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Osun State suggesting plans to preload BVAS machines ahead of the governorship election.
“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,” Oyewumi stated. He described such actions, if true, as a grave threat to electronic accreditation and a potential attempt to manipulate election outcomes. The campaign council also expressed concern over INEC’s ongoing distribution of new PVCs, urging the commission to ensure the process is open, transparent, and free from manipulation.
Oyewumi warned that any attempt to disenfranchise Osun voters by withholding their PVCs would not be tolerated. He stressed that PVC collection must be conducted transparently and cautioned against proxy collection. The campaign council clarified that its concerns are not aimed at discrediting INEC but at fostering constructive engagement to improve electoral credibility.
The Osun governorship election, Oyewumi noted, presents a crucial opportunity for Nigeria’s democratic institutions to demonstrate their commitment to free, fair, and transparent elections. “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,” he added. The campaign council is calling on INEC to take immediate corrective actions to address these issues before the August 15 election, ensuring a process that upholds public trust and democratic values.
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