The chair of the 2026 Osun Election Observation Mission, Yiaga Africa, Dr Asmau Maikudi, has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to uphold transparency and strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 during tomorrow’s governorship poll in the state.

She maintained that this would go a long way in enhancing the credibility of the exercise and boost the confidence of all stakeholders in the capacity of the umpire to allow the electorate choose the next governor of Osun State.

Maikudi gave the charge while presenting the pre-election report to journalists in Osogbo.

She stated: “There is a need to uphold transparency and strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC Regulations and Guidelines on results management to strengthen public confidence in the process.”

Maikudi, who urged security agencies to maintain strict neutrality and professionalism in securing the election, called for sanctions against any security personnel who violates the rules of engagement requiring impartiality, objectivity and non-partisanship.

“Security agencies deployed for the election should respect the rights of citizens, media, and observers, including the right to freedom of movement on Election Day for duly accredited observers and media practitioners,” she stressed.

Maikudi, however, implored INEC to firm up its technological devices by making sure that glitches observed during its recent mock accreditation exercise were addressed before tomorrow’s election.

“INEC’s mock accreditation exercise exposed significant technical challenges that raise concerns about election-day readiness. Some BVAS devices temporarily failed to recognise voters’ fingerprints, facial features and older PVC records.

“INEC attributed the facial verification failures to an excessively high compatibility threshold affecting older voter data, particularly records that had not been revalidated. If unresolved, these failures could disenfranchise eligible voters, generate tension at polling units and undermine confidence in the credibility and legitimacy of the election,” she remarked.

She added that Yiaga observed that INEC’s logistics had been delayed by a last-minute court judgment that forced the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, on the ballot.