Osun poll: INEC identifies 385 flashpoints, 200 difficult terrains

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State says it has identified 385 flashpoints and about 200 difficult-to-access locations ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.

 

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed this during a security stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo convened by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the South-West, Adegoke Fayoade.

 

The meeting was attended by heads of security agencies, religious leaders, electoral officials, the media, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.

 

Babalola said the commission had completed a risk assessment across the state’s 30 local government areas and shared its findings with security agencies.

 

“We identified 385 flashpoints in the state, which have been shared with the security agencies. We also identified about 200 difficult terrains to guide their operations because there are places that are not motorable and cannot be easily accessed,” she said.

 

She added that INEC had conducted risk management training for its staff and deployed field officers for further assessments across the state.

 

The REC also said she had visited 29 of the state’s 30 local government areas, including Ila and Ifedayo, where kidnapping incidents had been reported, adding that security agencies assured her of adequate protection before, during and after the election.

 

On election preparedness, Babalola disclosed that INEC had already received about 75 per cent of the materials required for the poll, with non-sensitive materials already deployed to appropriate locations.

 

She appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to reassure residents and ensure a peaceful election.

 

“On our part, we are committed to conducting free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent governorship elections,” she said.

 

Osun voters will head to the polls on August 15 to elect a governor. Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election, while his main challengers are Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Dr. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who is backed by former governor Rauf Aregbesola.