NEWS UPDATE
Ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Saturday, August 1, conduct a mock accreditation exercise across 12 local government areas. While the exercise is designed to test the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), its significance extends far beyond technology.
The mock accreditation presents an opportunity for INEC to identify and resolve technical or operational challenges before election day. More importantly, it allows voters, political parties, election observers and civil society organisations to assess the commission’s preparedness for a credible electoral process.
Unlike the actual election, no voting will take place during the exercise. Registered voters in selected polling units are only expected to present their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for accreditation, enabling INEC to simulate election-day conditions and evaluate the efficiency of the BVAS.
The exercise will take place in 12 local government areas across Osun’s three senatorial districts. They include Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun and Boripe in Osun Central; Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Oriade and Obokun in Osun East; and Egbedore, Ede North, Ede South and Ejigbo in Osun West.
For Osogbo Local Government, the designated polling units are:
• 29/30/04/002
• 29/30/05/005
• 29/30/04/001
• 29/30/05/019
Beyond testing equipment, the exercise raises broader questions that deserve public attention. Are voters aware that the exercise is taking place? Have those in the selected polling units been adequately informed? Will the BVAS devices perform efficiently in both urban and rural communities? How quickly can officials resolve technical failures if they occur? These questions are critical because delays or system failures on election day could discourage voter participation and undermine public confidence.
The BVAS has become one of Nigeria’s most important electoral technologies because it verifies voters using biometric information, including fingerprints and facial recognition, helping to reduce multiple voting and electoral fraud. Its effectiveness on election day depends largely on how well it performs during exercises such as this.
As the state prepares to elect its governor for the next four years, Voice Air Media begins its countdown and preaches peace, no to vote-buying and yes to voting based on manifestos. The success of the mock accreditation may provide the first practical indication of whether the state is ready for a smooth, transparent and credible electoral process.
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