Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Osun State governorship election kicked off on a peaceful note on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with voters across the state turning out early to exercise their franchise. At Unit 7, Oke-Oja, Osogbo, residents were among the earliest to arrive, with some already at the polling unit by 7:20 a.m., eager to cast their ballots in an election that will determine who leads the state for the next four years.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were already on the ground, making final preparations for the exercise. The polling unit had been set up to accommodate the smooth flow of voters, with two separate queues arranged—one designated for elderly voters and another for younger voters. This arrangement was designed to ensure that the elderly and those with mobility challenges were not unduly delayed or inconvenienced.
As the morning progressed, voters continued to stream in, checking the pasted INEC register for their names and awaiting the commencement of accreditation, which was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. The atmosphere at Unit 7 was calm and orderly, reflecting the generally peaceful mood reported across other parts of the state.
The early turnout at Unit 7 was mirrored in other areas. At Ward 4, Unit 13 in the Osogbo Local Government Area, voters arrived as early as 6:50 a.m., waiting for electoral officials and voting materials. Similar scenes were reported in Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Ede North, and Boripe local government areas, where some voters were seen as early as 6:45 a.m.
Heavy security presence was observed around polling units in Osogbo and other parts of the state, as security agencies deployed thousands of personnel to ensure a peaceful and credible election. The Nigeria Police Force had earlier announced a restriction of movement across the state to prevent any disruptions and maintain order.
INEC had assured the public of its readiness for the election, despite a last-minute court judgment that ordered the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party candidate on the ballot. The commission printed millions of ballot papers and result sheets within 36 hours to comply with the court order and distributed sensitive materials to all 30 local government areas by the early hours of Saturday.
With 2,339,233 registered voters and 15 political parties contesting, the Osun governorship election is being closely watched as a bellwether for the 2027 general elections. As voting gets underway, the hope is that the process will remain peaceful and that the will of the people will be reflected in the outcome.
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