The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected claims of ghost and hired voters in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, saying its biometric accreditation system prevented unregistered persons from voting.
Dayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, made the clarification on Monday, August 17, 2026, during an interview on ARISE NEWS.
He urged Nigerians to verify election-related claims and videos circulating online, warning that artificial intelligence, misinformation and disinformation could distort events.
Oketola said voters must be registered and accredited at their designated polling units before casting their ballots through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
His comments followed INEC’s declaration of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party as winner of the poll.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. Adeleke won 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
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Oketola said voter turnout stood at 50.116 per cent, describing it as higher than figures recorded in recent off-cycle elections.
He acknowledged voter apathy as a persistent concern but attributed the Osun turnout partly to improved planning and logistics.
The INEC spokesman also described the peaceful conclusion of the poll, despite pre-election tensions, as evidence of growing democratic maturity.
He said candidates dissatisfied with the outcome remained free to seek judicial redress, with INEC prepared to defend its conduct in court.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Oketola described recent off-cycle polls as tests of INEC’s readiness.
He urged political parties to reject vote-buying and called on security agencies to manage threats effectively, stressing that credible elections require cooperation from all stakeholders.
The commission’s defence of BVAS comes amid continuing public scrutiny of voter accreditation and the credibility of the voters’ register as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.