Osun 2026: Assembly Alleges Foul Play in REC Redeployment

The Osun State House of Assembly on Thursday raised concerns over the transfer of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, to Ondo State, alleging possible manipulation of the electoral process.

The national headquarters of INEC announced Dr. Agboke’s redeployment on Wednesday evening. The REC communicated the development through a media WhatsApp group created for journalists in the state.

Addressing reporters in Osogbo, the House of Assembly expressed worries that further redeployments could affect other key INEC officials, including the Administrative Secretary, Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers, and ICT personnel across Osun State.

The assembly questioned the timing of Agboke’s transfer, noting that similar redeployments did not occur in Ekiti State, which is scheduled to hold elections before Osun.

“We are particularly concerned by a deliberate pattern of actions aimed at influencing the electoral process in Osun State. Let it be clearly stated that no administrative changes or deployments of interested officials will override the will of the people of Osun State,” the statement said.

The House also disclosed that it has received credible reports suggesting plans to compromise the election in the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District.

“Let it be made unequivocally clear that whoever is deployed to conduct elections in Osun State must act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law. The election must be free, fair, and credible. Anything short of this will be firmly resisted by the people of Osun,” the assembly added.

The statement concluded by emphasizing the political awareness and vigilance of Osun residents:

“The people of this State are deeply committed to democratic values and will not accept any action, from any quarter, that undermines the credibility of the electoral process.”