The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State has announced that the 2026 governorship election will now be conducted on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The adjustment follows a directive issued by the Commission’s national headquarters.
Initially scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, the election has been postponed by one week.
Details of the development were contained in a statement released on Thursday by the Osun INEC Public Affairs Officer, Musa Olurode, acting on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke.
According to the statement, the date was revised after formal communication from the Commission’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
“The adjustment follows an official release from the Commission’s National Headquarters in Abuja,” the statement read.
INEC confirmed that political parties, candidates, key stakeholders and residents of the state have been duly informed about the new date for the poll.
The Commission noted that several pre-election activities had already been completed in line with the approved timetable for the governorship race.
These, it said, “were carried out in accordance with existing electoral guidelines.”
INEC further stated that all pending procedures would be conducted in strict compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026. It emphasized that “compliance with the law would guide the implementation of the remaining stages of the election.”
The statement maintained that the revised schedule is consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2026, stressing that the shift aligns with established legal requirements.
Reassuring stakeholders, the Commission underscored that the postponement would not undermine the credibility of the process.
“The rescheduling does not compromise our commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election,” the statement said.
INEC added that the responsibility for a successful exercise rests on all participants. “The successful conduct of the forthcoming election remains a collective responsibility,” it added.
The Commission therefore urged political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and eligible voters across Osun State to sustain their cooperation to ensure a peaceful and orderly governorship election on the newly announced date.
