Osun 2026: INEC Chairman Clears Air On Preferred Candidate

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Osogbo on Wednesday, which was attended by representatives of political parties, civil society organisations and other interest groups, Amupitan said INEC’s only responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and ensure that the will of the electorate prevails through a credible electoral process.

He assured all political parties and candidates of a level playing field, emphasising that the commission’s loyalty lies solely with the Nigerian people and the constitutional mandate to conduct free, fair and transparent elections.

The INEC chairman also appealed to eligible voters across the state to participate actively in the election, describing voter apathy as one of the greatest threats to democratic development. He noted that even the most advanced electoral technology and well-secured polling units would be meaningless if citizens failed to exercise their civic responsibility.

Amupitan urged residents not to allow fear, violence or misinformation discourage them from voting, assuring the public that adequate security measures would be in place to safeguard voters and election officials throughout the exercise.

He further reminded political parties and their supporters to abide by the terms of the Peace Accord, warning that any attempt to incite violence or deploy political thugs during the election would attract decisive action from security agencies.

Reiterating INEC’s commitment to protecting the integrity of every valid vote, the commission’s chairman encouraged Osun residents to turn out peacefully on election day, vote according to their conscience and contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process through lawful participation.