- INEC Chairman: We Have No Preferred Candidate In Osun Governorship Election
- He urged Osun residents to vote despite concerns over violence and misinformation.
- Amupitan warned political actors against violence and deployment of political thugs.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has reiterated that the electoral body has no preferred candidate for the August 15, 2026, governorship election in Osun State.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Amupitan said INEC has no political allegiance to any political party or candidate and would provide a level playing field for all contestants in the election.
The INEC Chairman also urged residents of Osun State to come out in large numbers and exercise their right to vote, assuring them that adequate security measures would be put in place during the election.
Amupitan made the remarks on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting involving political parties, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders in Osogbo.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has no preferred candidate, holds no political allegiance, and seeks no outcome other than the lawful choice of the electorate, our sole loyalty is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” Amupitan said.
He said democracy could only thrive when citizens exercised their constitutional right to vote, describing voter apathy as one of the major threats to Nigeria’s democratic development.
“Apathy is the silent killer of democratic progress, and we must confront it head-on.
“The finest technology and the best-secured polling units mean little if they remain empty,” he said.
The INEC Chairman urged residents not to be discouraged by reports of violence and appealed to them not to allow fear, apathy or misinformation to prevent them from participating in the election.
“Do not allow fear, apathy, or misinformation to silence your voice. Turn out peacefully on Saturday, 15th August 2026, vote your conscience, and trust that this Commission will protect the sanctity of every valid ballot.
“Our commitment is simple: no citizen should have to choose between their safety and their right to vote,” he said.
Amupitan also reminded political parties and candidates to uphold the Peace Accord signed ahead of the election.
He warned that any rhetoric capable of inciting violence or the deployment of political thugs would attract a decisive response from the state.
The INEC Chairman called on all eligible voters to participate in the election and make their voices heard through the ballot box.
“Let the streets of Osun State lead to the polling units on that day. Let your voices be heard, and let your votes count,” he said.
