INEC says 80% of election materials already deployed

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 80% of the non-sensitive materials required for the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship election have been received and deployed.

The Commission also said that a total of 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines had been earmarked for the election, comprising 3,763 devices for deployment across all polling units in the state and 664 backup machines.

Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Osogbo ahead of the Governorship election.

She said, “All sensitive and non-sensitive materials requirement for the election had been identified. Eighty per cent of the non-sensitive materials required for the election have been received and deployed to the local government areas and batched into Registration Areas and Polling Units. The state office is collaborating closely with relevant security agencies to ensure their safe storage.

“A total of 3,763 BVAS will be deployed for the election, while an additional 664 BVAS will be set aside as backups. In addition to voter accreditation, the BVAS will be used to upload polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for enhanced transparency and for the public to have access to polling unit election results.”

Babalola added that all the BVAS devices had been charged and were awaiting configuration, while Registration Area Technical Support Staff (RATECHs) would be deployed to all Registration Areas to provide technical support.

The REC said sensitive election materials, including ballot papers, the EC8 series of result sheets, EC40G forms and BVAS devices, would be delivered and deployed to Local Government Areas during the week of the election.

On voter registration, the REC said the Continuous Voter Registration exercise recorded 381,817 fresh registrations, alongside 50,747 transfers, 7,272 updates, 42,355 requests for replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, 14,362 reviews and 1,865 PVC collections.

She said Osun State had 1,954,800 registered voters before the exercise, adding that the commission would announce the commencement of PVC collection once the cards were ready.

Babalola also said INEC had identified flashpoints and difficult terrains across the state, engaged transport unions on election logistics and continued voter education through radio, television, social media, market outreaches, town hall meetings, traditional institutions and faith-based organisations.

She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive governorship election.