The Imole Campaign Council, the group leading the reelection campaign of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to avoid those drawbacks witnessed during some recently held off cycle elections.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, the Director General of the Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, alleged that during off-cycle and by-elections, in Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa and Ekiti states, individuals suspected to be mercenary voters were handed Permanent Voter’s Cards shortly before voting.
Oyewumi, who also mentioned the deployment of insufficient ballot papers and other sensitive materials, alleged the distribution of already thumbprinted ballot papers during the 2026 Ekiti State.
He said the off-cycle election in Ekiti and the FCT Council elections were also marred by technical challenges associated with BVAS
The lawmaker also stated that during the last elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and FCT, political parties that did not present candidates for the poll appeared on both the ballot papers and result sheets used for the exercise.
Highlighting other pitfalls the council has so far noticed ahead of Osun poll, Oyewumi further said, “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.
He said, “This claim, if true, strikes at the heart of electronic accreditation and suggests a predetermined outcome rather than the genuine will of the people.
“We have been notified about the commencement of distribution of new PVCs by INEC; however, we have serious concerns on the transparency of the process and we hereby warn that any move to disenfranchise Osun voters by withholding their PVCs will not be tolerated. We categorically demand that this distribution must be transparent in a way that does not allow collection by proxy.”
Insisting that all areas of concern highlighted by the council should be addressed, he said the concerns expressed was not to undermine confidence in INEC, but to strengthen the electoral process through constructive engagement.
He added, “The Osun governorship election presents another important opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate that democratic institutions can continue to improve and inspire public confidence.
“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. We therefore call on INEC to treat these observations with the seriousness they deserve and to implement all necessary corrective measures before August 15.”
It was reported that the electorate in Osun will be going to the polls on Saturday, August 15 to elect a governor.
Fourteen political parties are fielding candidates in the poll.
The incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, an ex-Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, and ex-Executive Director, Marketing and Business Development, Nigerian Communications Satellite, Dr Najeem Salaam, are the three leading candidates in the election.
