Osun 2026: We’ll be waiting for voters at polling units - REC

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Nigeria, has guaranteed voters that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials will be waiting at polling units when they arrive for the governorship election on August 15. Speaking at a media briefing in Osogbo, Babalola emphasized INEC's commitment to improving the timeliness of deploying Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) and Presiding Officers (POs).

The commission plans to deploy a total of 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices for the election. Of these, 3,763 will be used for the polls, with an additional 664 units held in reserve as backups. These BVAS machines will be crucial for voter accreditation and authentication, as well as for the electronic transmission of polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), enhancing transparency.

Babalola stated that INEC has set a high operational standard, referencing its performance in the recent Ekiti State election, and intends to uphold it in Osun. To ensure the timely movement of election personnel and materials, the commission has collaborated with transport unions and conducted workshops for transport operators. Furthermore, Registration Area Centres (RACs) will open early to allow SPOs and POs to familiarize themselves with the environment before deployment, ensuring a smooth electoral process.

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We have set a standard that we can no longer afford to fall below. In Ekiti State, our Supervisory Presiding Officers and Presiding Officers were at the polling units before the voters. In Osun, I am assuring voters that we will be waiting for them across all polling units. Voters will not wait for us.