Osun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that the 2026 governorship election in the state will now take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The change in date followed a directive from the INEC national headquarters.
The commission, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that the poll, previously slated for Saturday, 8 August, 2026, was shifted by one week.
Osun INEC Public Affairs Officer, Musa Olurode, made the announcement on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke.
According to the statement, the decision was taken after an official communication from the Commission’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
“The adjustment follows an official release from the Commission’s National Headquarters in Abuja,” the statement read.
INEC has formally notified political parties, candidates, stakeholders and residents of Osun State of the new date.
It indicated that a number of pre-election activities had already been concluded in line with the approved timetable for the governorship contest.
These, it said, “were carried out in accordance with existing electoral guidelines.”
It also clarified that all outstanding processes would proceed strictly under the framework of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The commission noted that “compliance with the law would guide the implementation of the remaining stages of the election.”
The statement while affirming that the revised date aligns with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2026, maintained that the change was consistent with established legal requirements.
Reassuring stakeholders, the commission emphasised that the shift would not affect the integrity of the electoral process.
“The rescheduling does not compromise our commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election,” the statement said
INEC stressed that the successful conduct of the poll requires collective effort from all parties involved.
“The successful conduct of the forthcoming election remains a collective responsibility,” it added.
The Commission called on political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and eligible voters across Osun State to continue cooperating to ensure a peaceful and orderly governorship election on the new date.
