INEC provides additional 664 BVAS as back up for Osun election

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 3,763 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed across all 3,763 polling units with additional 664 as backups for voter accreditation to ensure that only registered voters with valid PVCs vote on election day.

Speaking at a press briefing in Osogbo, on Wednesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed that the BVAS will be used to upload polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for enhanced transparency and for the public to have access to PU election results.

She assured that all the BVAS devices are already charged awaiting configuration which shall be carried out close to election.

Noting that the commission has held strategic inclusive sensitization activities for marginalized groups (Women, Youth and PWDs), faith based and religious groups as well as community based non-governmental organisations (NGO) to Local Governments in the state, Babalola said grassroot sensitization in LGAs to enhance participation of women, grassroots support and implementation meeting by local organizations for confidence building and effective participation of the electorates, sensitization of PWDs to foster inclusive environment have been conducted.

“In addition, the Commission is providing magnifying glasses, braille ballot guides and priority voting access for persons with disability, the elderly and nursing mothers,” Babalola added.

On security, Babalola noted that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, has assured all stakeholders that the Command has put in place comprehensive security arrangements to prevent all forms of violence and ensure a peaceful environment before, during and after the election.

“The DIG in charge of ICT/ supervising South West Zone held another Strategic Stakeholders’ Security Meeting on 26th June, 2026. Far reaching resolutions on security were made to ensure peace and safety in Osun State,” she said.

The INEC REC disclosed that Osun had 1,954,800 registered voters before the CVR exercise, promising that voters would be informed when it is time to collect the PVCs.

She said over 80 percent of the non-sensitive materials have been received while transport unions have been met to ensure that the commission gets to the polling unit before commencement of voting.