INEC Declares Osun Ready for 2027 Elections, Completes Nine of 14 Key Activities

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that preparations for the 2027 general elections in Osun State are progressing steadily, with nine of the 14 major activities on its electoral timetable already completed.

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The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Osogbo, assuring residents that the commission was committed to conducting free, fair, credible and transparent elections.

Babalola said INEC was building on the experience and achievements recorded during the August 15, 2026 governorship election, which recorded a turnout of 1,010,684 voters out of 2,339,233 registered voters, representing 43.2 per cent participation.

According to her, the governorship election witnessed the seamless deployment of electoral personnel and materials, while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned effectively across all 3,763 polling units in the state.

She also noted that the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) recorded a strong performance, with 87 per cent of polling unit results uploaded by 4:30 p.m. on election day.

PVC Collection Rate Rises to 81.74 Per Cent

Providing an update on voter registration and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, the REC disclosed that Osun’s PVC collection rate had increased to 81.74 per cent.

She said 18.26 per cent of the cards were yet to be collected, urging eligible voters to visit designated collection centres to obtain their PVCs ahead of the 2027 elections.

Babalola added that INEC currently had 5,763 functional BVAS machines available for the general elections in the state.

The figure includes 1,328 backup devices intended to address possible technical challenges during the exercise.

INEC Begins Recruitment and Training of Election Officials

On election personnel, the REC revealed that recruitment of ad hoc staff was ongoing through the commission’s online portal.

She stressed that only competent, neutral and professional applicants would be considered for election duties.

According to her, INEC had also commenced strategic training programmes for electoral officials, while additional training sessions for security personnel, presiding officers and collation officers had been scheduled ahead of the polls.

Security Measures and Logistics

Babalola further disclosed that the commission had started identifying potential security flashpoints across Osun’s 30 local government areas.

She said risk management strategies were being deployed to monitor possible threats and ensure adequate security arrangements before, during and after the elections.

On logistics, she announced that 98 Super Registration Area Centres and 97 Registration Area Centres would be activated to facilitate the early deployment of electoral officials and materials on election day.

The arrangement, she explained, was designed to improve operational efficiency and ensure that election materials arrived at polling units on time.

REC Seeks Media Support for Credible Elections

The INEC REC commended journalists for their contributions to peaceful electoral processes in the state, urging the media to sustain accurate reporting and voter education as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.

She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement, assuring residents that INEC would leave no stone unturned in delivering credible elections in Osun State.

The latest update signals the commission’s effort to strengthen its electoral preparations following the 2026 governorship election, with voter participation, technology, security and logistics remaining key priorities ahead of the 2027 polls.

Tags: INEC, Osun 2027 Elections, Oluwatoyin Babalola, Osun State Politics, PVC Collection, BVAS, IReV, 2027 General Election, Electoral Commission, Nigeria Politics