As preparations intensify for the 2026 Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun deploying its Voter Enrolment Devices (IVED) to hard-to-reach communities across the state.
The initiative forms part of the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which officially commenced on January 5 and is scheduled to run until April 17.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, announced the development on Monday during an extended stakeholders’ meeting held in Osogbo.
According to Agboke, the current phase of the CVR introduces a 50-day rotational deployment of enrolment devices across scattered settlements in each local government area, subject to the approval and cooperation of stakeholders at the grassroots level.
“This phase comes with a unique and far-reaching benefit, as the IVEDs will be rotated among remote communities to bring registration services closer to eligible citizens, especially those in underserved areas,” he said.
He explained that the move is aimed at deepening grassroots participation, reducing the cost and stress of transportation for prospective voters, and ensuring that no eligible citizen is excluded from the electoral process due to distance.
Agboke added that the strategy would also help decongest registration centres, improve operational efficiency, and enhance overall service delivery.
By anchoring the deployment on stakeholder endorsement at the local government level, the REC noted that the process would further promote transparency, community ownership, and shared responsibility for the success of the exercise.
He stressed that the deployment of the IVEDs would strengthen public confidence in the voter registration process and reaffirm INEC’s commitment to credibility, inclusivity, and innovation in electoral administration.
Agboke also reminded the public that the CVR exercise is completely free of charge, warning against any form of extortion or misconduct by officials or intermediaries. He urged residents to report any irregularities to INEC through its established complaint channels.
“The voter registration exercise is not a competition among political parties,” he said. “It is a national civic duty.”
He further called on political parties, candidates, and their supporters to maintain peace and order before, during, and after the registration exercise to ensure its smooth and successful conduct.
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