Political tension is already heating up in Osun State as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially rolled out the timetable for the 2026 governorship election. According to reports, voters will head to the polls on August 8, 2026, but before then, parties have just a few months to put their house in order.
Omo, this one is going to be interesting — the political chessboard is already being set!
During a stakeholders’ meeting at the INEC office in Osogbo on Wednesday, the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, revealed that all political parties must wrap up their primaries by December 15, 2025. He explained that the nomination process will open on January 15, 2026 and close by February 9, 2026, with all submissions to be made through INEC’s online portal.
“The conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes, will start on November 24, 2025, and end on December 15, 2025,” Agboke stated, adding that the access code for candidate nomination will be available from December 15, 2025.
Why This Matters
This timetable means that in just a few months, Osun residents will know exactly who’s in the race for the number one seat. INEC says this is in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022, ensuring that candidates are chosen democratically.
And omo, if you know Osun politics, you know the primaries alone can be hotter than the main election!
Security and Voter Registration Drive
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Yusuf Taiwo, speaking on behalf of the Police Commissioner, assured the public of adequate security before, during, and after the election. He, however, cautioned political actors to avoid actions that could lead to trouble.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Victor Akande, pledged full cooperation with INEC to ensure smooth voter registration and credible polls.
Speaking of voter registration — the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will kick off this coming Monday, and stakeholders are urging residents to come out in large numbers to register or update their details.
