The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced March 11, 2026, as the official start date for political campaigns ahead of the Osun State governorship election.

Dr. Mutiu Agboke, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, made this disclosure on Monday during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo. The meeting also marked the launch of the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the state.

Agboke stated that the campaign schedule would be formally communicated to political parties in accordance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

“By God’s grace, full campaign activities will commence on March 11, 2026. We will meet with stakeholders, especially political parties, to brief them appropriately,” he said.

He further explained that the Commission would provide detailed protocols to guide political parties throughout the campaign period.

“We are going to roll out the protocols and conduct guidelines for political parties in line with the Electoral Act, which contains the necessary provisions for everyone,” Agboke added.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring credible elections in the state. Reflecting on the first phase of the CVR, he noted that collaboration between INEC and stakeholders contributed significantly to its success.

“We achieved success in the first phase because INEC and stakeholders worked together to identify and address potential challenges,” he said.

A similar collaborative approach, Agboke noted, would be adopted for the second phase to build on the progress already made.

In addition, the Commission plans to rotate voter registration equipment across communities to improve accessibility for prospective voters.

“We will start rotating the CVR, taking the IVES to communities so registrants can participate. Stakeholders have assured us of their cooperation and readiness to support the success of this exercise,” he concluded.