The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on May 30, 2025, the timetable and schedule for the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, scheduled for June 20, 2026, and July 18, 2026, respectively.
The announcement, made by INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu during a briefing in Abuja, aligns with the commission’s policy of providing early notice to ensure effective preparations by political parties, candidates, and stakeholders. The decision follows the expiration of the current governors’ tenures, with Ekiti’s Governor Biodun Oyebanji and Osun’s Governor Ademola Adeleke concluding their terms in October and November 2026, respectively.
The timetable outlines key activities, including the issuance of the Notice of Election for Ekiti on January 5, 2026, and for Osun on February 2, 2026. Political party primaries are scheduled from January 10 to February 7, 2026, for Ekiti, and February 7 to March 7, 2026, for Osun, with disputes to be resolved by March 1 and April 1, respectively. Campaigns will commence on March 22, 2026, for Ekiti and April 19, 2026, for Osun, ending two days before each election.
The submission of nomination forms closes on April 20, 2026, for Ekiti and May 18, 2026, for Osun, with final candidate lists published on May 5 and June 2, respectively. INEC emphasized the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to ensure transparency, building on their successful deployment in the 2022 Ekiti and Osun polls, which recorded 36.74% and 42.37% voter turnout, respectively.
The announcement has sparked political activity in both states, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) preparing for primaries. INEC urged parties to avoid rancorous campaigns and comply with electoral guidelines, warning against premature campaigning.
The commission also highlighted its cybersecurity measures, noting that previous attempts to hack IReV during the 2022 polls, some from as far as Asia, were thwarted. Stakeholders, including civil society groups like Yiaga Africa, have called for sustained collaboration to replicate the peaceful conduct of past elections. The polls are critical off-season tests ahead of the 2027 general elections, with INEC’s preparations under scrutiny to maintain public trust.