The Osun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the 2026 governorship election in the state will now hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The shift follows a directive from INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja. The poll was initially scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, but has been postponed by one week.

The announcement was made public by the Osun INEC Public Affairs Officer, Musa Olurode, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke.

In the statement, the commission explained that the change was based on official communication from its National Headquarters and affirmed that all political parties, candidates, stakeholders, and residents have been formally notified of the new date.

INEC highlighted that several pre-election activities have already been completed in line with the approved timetable, and these were conducted according to existing electoral guidelines. It also confirmed that all remaining processes will proceed strictly under the framework of the Electoral Act, 2026, ensuring full compliance with the law.

The commission reassured the public that the rescheduling does not compromise the integrity of the electoral process. “The rescheduling does not compromise our commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive, and transparent election,” the statement read.

INEC emphasized that the successful conduct of the election requires cooperation from all stakeholders, including political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organizations, and eligible voters. It urged continued collaboration to guarantee a peaceful and orderly governorship election on the new date.