Fresh concerns over the credibility of the 2026 governorship election in Osun State have emerged, following strong reservations expressed by members of the State House of Assembly over recent electoral decisions by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The lawmakers, who spoke through Speaker Adewale Egbedun on Thursday in Osogbo, raised alarm over the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, to Ondo State, warning that the move could affect public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the August 15 poll.
According to the Assembly, the timing of the redeployment has triggered suspicion, especially as political activities begin to intensify in the state. The Speaker noted that beyond the REC’s transfer, there are indications that other key electoral personnel may also be moved, a development he said could further complicate preparations for the election.
He explained that positions such as Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers, Administrative Secretaries, and ICT officials play critical roles in determining the transparency and efficiency of elections, stressing that frequent changes close to an election period could raise questions about neutrality.
The Assembly also pointed to concerns raised by political actors, including petitions from the All Progressives Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, which had accused the redeployed REC of bias prior to his transfer. While INEC has not publicly linked the redeployment to those complaints, the lawmakers insist that the sequence of events warrants closer scrutiny.
Drawing comparisons with Ekiti State, which precedes Osun in the election calendar, the Speaker observed that similar widespread redeployments have not been recorded there, suggesting what he described as a pattern that requires explanation from the electoral body.
While reaffirming their commitment to a peaceful and credible electoral process, the lawmakers called on INEC to ensure that all administrative decisions are guided by transparency and fairness, warning that any perception of manipulation could undermine voter trust and the overall integrity of the election.
