Osun 2026: INEC to transmit result on IReV portal for transparency

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria is committed to enhancing transparency in the upcoming Osun governorship election. The commission announced it will electronically transmit election results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). This process will be supported by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which will be used for voter accreditation and authentication on election day.

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The Commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter authentication and accreditation, and results will be electronically transmitted to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to ensure transparency, the same technology combination that delivered a 96 percent BVAS functionality rate and a 98 percent IReV completion rate in Ekiti.

This technological approach aims to mirror the success seen in Ekiti State, where BVAS achieved a 96 percent functionality rate and the IReV portal reached a 98 percent completion rate. Furthermore, INEC has significantly expanded the voter register in Osun State through its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The commission processed 499,809 applications, resulting in 381,817 new voter registrations.

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The Commission has conducted its Continuous Voter Registration exercise, enrolling 381,817 new voters in Osun State, with a total of 499,809 applications processed during the CVR phase.

INEC is also taking a firm stance against vote buying, which it identifies as a major threat to the credibility of Nigerian elections. Commissioner Muhammed Haruna stressed that this practice, observed prominently in the Ekiti election, will be tackled vigorously in Osun. He reminded stakeholders that vote trading is a criminal offense under Section 22 of the Electoral Act 2026, punishable by fines, imprisonment, and disqualification from holding public office.

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The single most alarming development in the Ekiti State Governorship Election, and the most urgent challenge we collectively face going into Osun, is the brazen, widespread, and openly reported phenomenon of vote buying.

The commission is actively collaborating with anti-graft agencies to combat this menace. INEC's determination to ensure a credible electoral process in Osun reflects a broader commitment to strengthening democratic institutions in Nigeria.

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Let me be direct about the law. Section 22 of the Electoral Act 2026 is unambiguous: vote trading is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of not less than five million naira, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, plus a ten-year disqualification from contesting any public office in Nigeria.