Osun Decides Today: Election For New Governor Kicks Off; 2.3 Million Expected to Vote
Today’s off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Osun State have drawn the attention of Nigerians as the masses prepare to troop out to install their next helmsman. August 15, 2026.
Polling began at 8.30 am and would close at 2.30 pm throughout the 30 local government areas of the state where more than 2.3 million registered voters would vote in 3,763 polling units. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials promised that any voter still on the queues at closing time will vote.
It’s widely believed that the INEC will use this governorship election as their final big test before 2027.
INEC Completes Emergency Ballot Reprint Overnight
The top story the morning seems to be the last-minute changes and logistics at INEC. Reports have said that the Commission has had to reprint millions of ballots within the space of 36 hours thanks to a court order to include Social Democratic Party(SDP) candidate.
Distribution of the reprinted ballots was only completed around 5:00 am today to all 30 LGAs. INEC has deployed 3,763 BVAS machines, one for each polling unit, with 664 backups on standby.
The Commission also stated that results will be uploaded to its IReV portal in real-time from polling units.
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Heavy Security in Osogbo, Ilesa, Esa-Oke and Border Towns
To prevent breakdown of law and order, security agencies have deployed about 25,000 personnel across Osun State. This includes about 15,000 police officers, over 10,210 NSCDC officers, and about 100 EFCC officials deployed specifically to monitor vote-buying.
Troops fully armored with vehicles are currently in the suspected hot zones that comprise Osun/Kwara boundary, Osun/Oyo boundary, Osun/Ondo boundary, Esa-Oke and Ilesa.
“The police command also confirmed a shooting which resulted in death at Omi Eran area, Osogbo in the early hours of Friday as a fallout of cultists activities which is unrelated to the election”.
N20,000 Vote-Buying Allegation Rocks APC and Accord Party
Reports from major national dailies this morning allege widespread vote-buying. The Punch Newspaper reports that both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Accord Party in Osun have been accused of offering N20,000 per vote and collecting voters’ bank account numbers days before the election.
Unlike previous elections where such allegations emerge on election day, this time it was reported as early as six days ago. Both parties are yet to officially respond to the fresh allegations.
The EFCC has said its operatives are on ground to arrest anyone caught in the act.
What Voters Are Saying in South-West
PM News in an election eve analysis from the motor parks in Osogbo noted this atmosphere in the state capital where several residents had gone back home to cast their vote, voicing their hopes and fears in the tense atmosphere.
Civil society organisations in Osogbo equally asked INEC and security services to allow the process take place in a free, fair, credible and transparent manner.
Blueprint Newspaper Newspaper called today’s poll another ‘hurdle to jump before 2027’, explaining that observer teams noted no fewer than 29 deaths and 73 outbreaks of violence during and in the run-up to the Osun election of May-July 2026.
Who Are The Main Contenders?
There are 15 political parties in the today’s ballot: The present Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji (APC), Najeem Salaam (ADC) are main candidates and 12 other candidates. The election result will influence calculation in the South-West politics in the 2027.
Stay with us for live results and updates from polling units across Osun State.
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