By Peace Erewunmi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final register of voters for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, confirming that 2,339,233 registered voters will be eligible to participate in the poll. The updated register reflects new registrations, transfers, and other revisions carried out during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The register was presented to political parties by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, at the INEC office in Osogbo. She said the release of the register demonstrates the commission’s commitment to transparency, credibility, and inclusive participation in the electoral process.

According to INEC, the number of registered voters increased significantly from the 1,954,800 voters recorded during the 2023 election cycle to 2,339,233, following the 2025–2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise and inter-state transfer of voters.

The updated register shows that women account for 52.79 percent of registered voters, while young people between the ages of 18 and 34 make up 36.64 percent of the electorate. These demographics are expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the election.

INEC urged political parties to scrutinise the register, conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns, and discourage violence, vote-buying, and other electoral offences capable of undermining the credibility of the election. The commission also reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, and transparent governorship poll.

As part of preparations for the election, the commission also unveiled the Braille Ballot Guide, a voting aid designed to enable visually impaired voters to cast their ballots independently and confidentially. INEC said the initiative reflects its commitment to making elections more inclusive and accessible for all eligible citizens.

The governorship election is expected to be closely contested, with women, youths, traders, students, artisans, and other voting blocs likely to influence the final outcome. Political parties have intensified campaigns across the state as they seek to mobilise support ahead of the August 15 poll.

Stakeholders have called on voters to participate peacefully, respect the electoral process, and exercise their civic responsibility. They also urged security agencies, political parties, and election observers to work together to ensure that the election is conducted in a peaceful, transparent, and credible manner.