Osun Guber: INEC Promises Free And Fair Poll
- Shola Aderinto
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the August 15 governorship election in Osun State will be free, fair and credible.
The commission said it has intensified preparations for the election with an Electoral Risk Management (ERM) sensitization workshop aimed at safeguarding a peaceful, credible and transparent process.
The workshop held at Halatria Hotels and Towers, Osogbo, brought together key electoral stakeholders, security agencies, civil society groups, development partners and the media.
The ERM workshop was presided over by the National Commissioner supervising Osun State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, alongside officials from INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Also present was the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Adelusi Victoria Temitayo, Heads of Departments, Electoral Officers, and representatives from critical institutions.
Speaking at the event, the INEC Commissioner, Prof Ajayi, emphasized that Electoral Risk Management is a “proactive and systematic framework designed to identify, assess and mitigate potential threats that could undermine the credibility, safety and overall success of elections.”
According to the INEC boss, the increasing complexity of the electoral environment makes it imperative for all stakeholders to deepen collaboration, enhance coordination and jointly develop strategies to address emerging risks before, during and after the election.
In her welcome address, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Babalola stated that the workshop serves as a critical platform for meaningful engagement among stakeholders, aimed at sharing experiences, strengthening institutional synergy and building a common understanding of electoral risks and mitigation measures.
She reiterated the mission of the commission to conduct a fair and credible elections in Osun state, adding that the collaboration with stakeholders embraces team work, while the ERM is organised to proffer mitigation to it by the partners, so that the election will be violent and rancour free.
The participants, which include Security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigeria Immigration Services NIS, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, CSOs, Media and Electoral Officers among others, resolved to ensure the forthcoming governorship election is conducted in an atmosphere that is free, fair, credible, peaceful, inclusive and transparent, in line with democratic best practices.
The workshop marks another step in INEC’s ongoing preparations under the leadership of Osun REC, Barr. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, to safeguard electoral integrity and reinforce public confidence ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election.
The Commission also held a series of workshops with stakeholders according to the INEC timetable for the forthcoming election.
INEC has fixed Saturday, August 15, 2026 for the election.
