The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims of ghost and hired voters during the August 15 Osun State governorship election, saying the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) made such voting impossible.
INEC Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Dayo Oketola, made the clarification on ARISE NEWS on Monday while urging Nigerians to be cautious about unverified information and videos circulating online after the election.
Oketola said voters must be registered and accredited at their specific polling units before they can cast their ballots.
“With BVAS in play for any election in Nigeria, there is no room for ghost voters or hired voters.”
He also warned Nigerians against believing every video or claim shared online, particularly with the growing use of artificial intelligence and the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
The clarification came after Accord Party candidate and incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared winner of the election with 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
Osun Records 50.116% Turnout
Oketola said the election recorded 50.116 per cent voter turnout, describing the figure as higher than turnout recorded in other recent off-cycle elections.
He said the turnout demonstrated that proper planning, effective logistics and voter participation could help address voter apathy.
“According to our records, we had a 50.116% voter turnout in that election.”
He explained that the figure was based on the number of Permanent Voter Cards collected and the number of voters accredited for the election.
INEC Says Osun Poll Shows Democratic Maturity
Oketola also described the peaceful conclusion of the election as a sign of what he called growing maturity in Nigeria’s democratic process, despite tensions and fears that preceded the poll.
He said INEC’s responsibility was to conduct elections that were free, fair, credible and inclusive within the Constitution, Electoral Act and the commission’s regulations.
Candidates dissatisfied with the result, he noted, were free to pursue legal remedies provided by law.
“Naturally, INEC will be a party to the suit, because we acted as the referee in the match,” he said.
INEC Looks Ahead to 2027
On the 2027 general elections, Oketola described recent off-cycle elections as important tests of INEC’s preparedness.
He said the commission was prepared to conduct credible elections but stressed that cooperation from political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders would be necessary.
Oketola also urged political parties to avoid practices such as vote-buying, while calling for security agencies to effectively manage threats and allow INEC to operate without unnecessary interference.
Source: ARISE NEWS interview with INEC Chief Press Secretary Dayo Oketola.
