The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has assured the public that the ongoing closure of local government secretariats will not affect the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
Dr. Mutiu Agboke, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun, stated on Wednesday that registration points currently located within locked council secretariats will be relocated to accessible venues to ensure uninterrupted voter registration.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, which included security personnel, political party representatives, civil society members, and journalists, Agboke confirmed that all impacted INEC offices had been identified and reported to the commission’s headquarters for swift resolution.
“The CVR will commence on August 18, 2025, with an online registration phase. Prospective voters can visit www.cvr.inecnigeria.org to submit their information and obtain a registration slip to present at their local government office,” he explained.
“Starting August 25, registrants will attend physical centers for biometric data capture, including fingerprinting and facial recognition. While INEC offices inside local government secretariats remain operational, where access is restricted, registration points will be moved. This will not impede the process,” Agboke added.
The local government secretariats in Osun have been closed since February 17, 2025, due to a political dispute between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over council leadership.
The APC relies on a February 10, 2025, Court of Appeal ruling reinstating its elected candidates, whereas the PDP maintains that the council officials recognized from February 2025 are still valid.
On preparations for the 2026 Osun governorship election, Agboke confirmed that election notices, scheduled for August 8, 2026, have been displayed at all 30 local government offices and the Modakeke area office, signaling the start of election activities.
He outlined the timeline for party primaries and dispute resolution from November 24 to December 15, 2025, with nomination submissions due between January 15 and February 9, 2026, urging political parties to strictly adhere to these deadlines.
Agboke also appealed to all stakeholders to collaborate with INEC in combating vote buying and educating voters against selling their votes.
“INEC cannot conduct peaceful and credible elections alone. Success depends on cooperation from political parties, security agencies, civil society, and the electorate,” he emphasized.
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