The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, has called on political parties in the state to ensure strict compilance to electoral guidelines and uphold internal democracy as they prepare for their forthcoming governorship primaries.
This call was made while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Olusegun Agbaje Media Centre, Osogbo, on Tuesday, 28th October,2025. Dr. Agboke emphasized that the success of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election depends largely on the cooperation of all political actors and strict adherence to INEC’s election timetable.
According to him, party primaries are scheduled to hold between November 24 and December 15, 2025, in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022. He revealed that while 19 political parties are registered nationally, 18 are currently active in Osun State.
“Political parties must organize themselves in a manner that ensures their primaries are free, fair, and devoid of friction. Peaceful primaries strengthen democracy, enhance party unity, and reduce the number of pre-election disputes,” Agboke stated.
The Osun REC cautioned political parties against engaging in early campaigns, warning that doing so would violate Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act, which stipulates that public campaigns may only commence 150 days before the polling day.
“As we speak, campaign activities have not commenced. No political party should do so in whatever guise. Parties and candidates must comply with INEC’s regulations on rallies, processions, and campaigns, available on our website,” he warned.
Dr. Agboke also called on political leaders to play active roles in voter education, opined that many party members are still unfamiliar with party logos and electoral processes. He urged parties to campaign vigorously against vote buying and electoral violence, describing them as “menaces that undermine the nation’s democratic values.”
On the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, the REC disclosed that as of October 24, 2025, a total number of 151,593 new registrants had been recorded in Osun State. He commended the people of the state for their cooperation and encouraged those yet to register to do so to ensure their participation in the next year’s polls.
He expressed his appreciation to INEC staff across the state for their “selfless service, professionalism, and ethical conduct” during the CVR, urging them to remain steadfast and ignore unfounded rumors or fake news.
The Osun State REC used the forum to reiterate the INEC’s commitment to work with all the stakeholders to ensuring a peaceful, credible, and transparent election in the state.
“We must all commit to rancor-free primaries, promote voters’ education, and shun violence and inducement. Together, we can deliver a credible governorship election in Osun State,” he affirmed.
