With less than six months until the Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed political parties to conduct all campaign activities in strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and its regulations. The commission officially set March 11, 2026, as the commencement date for electioneering campaigns in the state.
The warning was delivered by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo. Dr. Agboke characterised campaigns as constitutionally recognised avenues for presenting policy alternatives to voters, not merely ceremonial displays of strength. He stressed that rallies and engagements must centre on substantive issues like education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, security, and economic development, explicitly rejecting personal attacks, inflammatory rhetoric, and divisive propaganda.
“The primary objective of a political rally must be to educate voters about candidates’ policies, aspirations and plans for governance,” Agboke stated. He urged parties to focus on issue-based, policy-driven, and development-oriented campaigns while publicly discouraging vote buying, combating misinformation, and promoting peace advocacy.
The call for adherence was echoed by several security and civic agencies. Representing the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ademola Adebayo underscored that securing credible elections is a collective responsibility, warning politicians against desperation and the use of firearms during campaigns. The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Emmanuel Igbalawole Sotiyo, identified political desperation as a major trigger for election violence, pledging strict enforcement of the law against offenders.
Other stakeholders included the National Orientation Agency, which cautioned against hate speech; the National Youth Service Corps, which affirmed its collaboration with INEC for the training and protection of deployed members; and the Inter-Party Advisory Council, which tasked stakeholders with community-level voter education on the importance of free, fair, and credible polls.
Academic insight was provided by Professor Anthonia Simbine, whose lecture titled “Campaigns Beyond the Box: Working Within the Frame” advised political parties to avoid hate speech and refrain from campaigning in prohibited public spaces, urging strict operation within legal boundaries.
The meeting precedes the formal campaign season and serves as a final directive for political actors to align their strategies with established legal frameworks. INEC’s emphasis on issue-based discourse and lawful conduct aims to mitigate tensions and foster a peaceful environment for the upcoming election. Observers note that the commission’s early and coordinated messaging with security agencies signals a determined effort to curb historical challenges like violence, hate speech, and financial inducement ahead of the poll. The effectiveness of these guidelines will be closely watched as parties prepare for the March 11 campaign launch.
