The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled the 2026 Osun State governorship election by one week. The poll will now be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, shifting from the previously announced date of August 8.
The change follows a directive from INEC’s National Headquarters in Abuja, the commission’s Osun State office confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday. The announcement was conveyed by Musa Olurode, the Public Affairs Officer for Osun INEC, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke.
According to the statement, the adjustment is in formal compliance with a communication from the national body. INEC noted that several pre-election activities had already been completed in line with the original timetable for the governorship contest. All outstanding processes will proceed under the strict framework of the Electoral Act, 2026, with the commission emphasizing that legal compliance will guide the remaining stages of the election.
The statement clarified that the revised schedule aligns with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2022, underscoring that the rescheduling is consistent with established legal requirements. Reassuring stakeholders, INEC stressed that the one-week shift does not compromise its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive, and transparent election.
The commission highlighted that the successful conduct of the election is a collective responsibility. It called on political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organizations, and eligible voters across Osun State to continue cooperating to ensure a peaceful and orderly poll on the new date.
Osun State, located in Nigeria’s southwest, holds significant political importance, and its governorship election is a key contest in the country’s electoral calendar. The new date provides a short adjustment period for campaigns and voter mobilization while maintaining the integrity of the electoral timeline. All stakeholders are expected to adapt to the revised schedule as INEC proceeds with final preparations for the August 15 poll.
