Imole Campaign Council (TICC) for Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently address what it described as critical electoral lapses ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election. At a press conference in Osogbo on Monday, the Director-General of the council, Senator Kamarudeen Olalere Oyewumi, outlined ten major concerns drawn from recent elections across the country, insisting that correcting the identified shortcomings is essential to ensuring a free, fair and credible governorship poll in Osun.

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 Concern Over Ballot Papers and Sensitive Materials

Leading the campaign council’s concerns was the alleged inadequate deployment and poor handling of ballot papers and other sensitive election materials during previous elections. The council referenced reports from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, where shortages and alleged snatching of ballot papers reportedly disrupted voting in several polling units. According to the campaign, such lapses resulted in voter disenfranchisement, prolonged waiting periods and unnecessary tension among voters, party agents and security personnel.

The council urged INEC to publicly account for the quantity of ballot papers allocated to every polling unit in Osun and strengthen the chain of custody for election materials. It also demanded real-time monitoring systems capable of identifying shortages or irregularities before they affect voting.

 Allegations of Thumb-Printed Ballot Papers

The campaign also expressed concern over allegations that already thumb-printed ballot papers were issued to some voters during the Ekiti governorship election and the FCT council polls. While noting that investigations remain the responsibility of INEC, Senator Oyewumi said the commission owes Nigerians a duty to ensure that every ballot paper and result sheet deployed for the Osun election remains untampered with.

According to the council, any opportunity for unauthorized access, cloning or duplication of sensitive election materials could undermine public confidence and compromise the credibility of the election. It therefore urged the electoral commission to implement stricter safeguards before the August poll.

 Reports of Voting Without PVCs

Another major concern raised by the campaign council was reports that some individuals allegedly voted without presenting Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the recent Ekiti governorship election. Citing observations by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, the council argued that allowing voting without PVCs violates the Electoral Act and opens the electoral process to impersonation, multiple voting and the participation of ineligible voters.

The campaign insisted that PVC verification remains the legal foundation for determining voter eligibility and warned INEC against any practice capable of weakening public trust in the electoral process.

 Demand for Additional BVAS Machines

The Imole Campaign Council also urged INEC to deploy additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to heavily populated polling units across Osun State. Senator Oyewumi disclosed that the council’s election surveillance team had reviewed the state’s voter register and found that about 2,500 polling units have more than 500 registered voters, while over 1,200 polling units each have more than 1,000 registered voters.

According to the council, deploying only one BVAS machine to such polling units could lead to accreditation delays, extended voting hours and voter frustration similar to experiences recorded in previous elections. It therefore called on INEC to provide additional BVAS devices, election personnel and accreditation equipment to ensure eligible voters are not disenfranchised.

 Calls for Investigation into Alleged Preloaded BVAS, Extra Result Sheets

Among the most serious allegations raised during the press conference were claims that some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly boasted about “preloading” BVAS machines ahead of the Osun governorship election and illegally printing extra result sheets. Although no evidence was presented at the briefing to substantiate the allegations, the campaign council called on INEC and security agencies to investigate the reported claims and reassure the public that adequate safeguards are in place.

The council warned that if such allegations are left unaddressed, they could erode public confidence in the electoral process and create the perception that the election has been compromised before voting begins. It therefore urged electoral authorities to audit all BVAS devices, secure result sheets and publicly demonstrate that no form of tampering or manipulation would be tolerated.

Beyond the highlighted concerns, the Imole Campaign Council reiterated that its intervention was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy rather than undermining confidence in INEC. The council urged the electoral commission, security agencies, political parties and voters to work together to ensure that the August 15 Osun governorship election is peaceful, transparent and reflects the genuine will of the electorate.