Nigeria’s election chief, Professor Joash Amupitan, has urged electoral officials to ensure a credible governorship vote in Osun State next month, warning that delays or unprofessional conduct will not be tolerated.
Speaking at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo, Prof. Amupitan warned local electoral officers that their actions would directly shape public trust in the upcoming 15 August election. He emphasised that polling units across the state’s 30 local government areas must open on time, noting that exceptional performance would be rewarded while deliberate delays would carry severe consequences.
Tech and Media Upgrades
The visit coincided with the inauguration of two new facilities designed to boost election transparency and safeguard voter technology:
A dedicated media centre (INEC Decides Studio) to streamline official updates and combat misinformation.
A secure storage facility for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) — the handheld digital devices used to verify voters’ identities and electronically transmit results.
Osun State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, who initiated the projects, assured the INEC chairman that logistics and personnel were fully prepared to deliver a smooth, conclusive election.
Security and Misinformation
Addressing security concerns, Prof. Amupitan disclosed that the commission is coordinating with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to protect voters, electoral workers, and sensitive materials.
He also cautioned officials to guard against fake news and misinformation, urging them to set a higher benchmark for electoral integrity than in previous off-cycle governorship polls.”You are the commission’s frontline representatives,” Prof Amupitan told the officials, reiterating the electoral body’s commitment to staff welfare and infrastructure improvements nationwide.
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