The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun has pushed back against allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that voter registration numbers in the state are inflated and unrealistic.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 2, INEC spokesperson, Musa Olurode, described the ADC’s position as “misleading” and said the figures reflect Osun’s consistent record of high voter participation.
According to him, Osun has always ranked among the top states in previous voter registration exercises, especially during the 2022 governorship election and the 2023 general elections.
“Osun State led all other states of the federation in online pre-registration during previous exercises. This is a verifiable fact from official INEC records,” he explained.
Olurode also clarified that online pre-registration is only the first step in the process, and does not count as a completed registration until biometric capture is carried out at designated centres.
“It is important to state that online pre-registration alone does not translate into actual registration. Without biometric capture, it remains incomplete,” he said.
The electoral body argued that the high turnout should be seen as proof of increasing political awareness among citizens, not as evidence of manipulation. It advised political parties to seek clarification from INEC before raising alarms in public.
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“We strongly advise political parties to cross-check facts with the Commission before rushing to the media with unfounded allegations,” the statement read.
Olurode urged parties to focus instead on mobilising and sensitising Nigerians to take part in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
He added that Osun’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, has been leading efforts to boost voter education, which is partly responsible for the strong numbers recorded so far.
“The impressive turnout is simply the result of consistent voter enlightenment campaigns across the state,” Olurode said.
INEC stressed that the entire registration process is being carried out strictly in line with the Electoral Act 2022, its guidelines, and international best practices, adding that it remains committed to transparency and inclusivity.
The ADC, however, had earlier claimed that Osun’s registration figures, said to be close to 400,000 within a week, were “statistically implausible” and could erode public trust in the electoral process if not properly explained.