Dr. Mutiu Olaleke Agboke, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), used the Expanded Stakeholders Engagement – attended by political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, religious leaders, and media representatives – to officially launch the election preparatory phase.

Central to the announcement was the schedule for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). Dr. Agboke declared that online pre-registration will open on Monday, 18th August 2025. Prospective voters are urged to first visit the INEC portal (`www.cvr.inecnigeria.org`) to supply their personal details. Physical biometric capture at designated centres across the state will then commence one week later, on Monday, 25th August 2025.

“This exercise marks the official kick-off of activities leading to the 2026 Osun Governorship Election,” Dr. Agboke stated, confirming that official Notices of Election have already been posted in all 30 Local Government INEC offices statewide.

The REC also revealed critical dates from the INEC headquarters’ timetable, confirming that political party primaries to select governorship candidates are scheduled to begin on 24th November 2025.

Providing a snapshot of the current electorate, Dr. Agboke shared that Osun State boasts 1,954,809 registered voters on its roll. However, he highlighted a significant backlog, noting that 360,794 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain uncollected, despite 1,594,006 cards already being in the possession of voters. The electoral infrastructure comprises 332 Registration Areas (Electoral Wards) and 3,763 Polling Units.

Dr. Agboke strongly encouraged all eligible citizens, particularly first-time voters and those needing to update their details, to utilise the online portal as the first step. “Begin your registration process online,” he urged, “before proceeding to the designated centres for fingerprint and photograph capture.”

Today’s engagement served as a platform for diverse stakeholders to voice concerns, exchange ideas, and discuss strategies. A recurring theme was the collective reaffirmation of commitment towards ensuring the 2026 election process is credible, inclusive, and peaceful. Security agencies pledged vigilance, political parties emphasised adherence to guidelines, civil society groups stressed voter education and monitoring, while religious and media leaders underscored their roles in promoting harmony and accurate information dissemination.

The announcements signal the formal countdown to an election cycle keenly watched across Nigeria, with INEC Osun aiming for robust participation and transparency from the outset of the voter registration drive. The focus now shifts to mobilising potential voters and tackling the substantial pile of uncollected PVCs.