The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has addressed concerns over technical challenges experienced during the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election, assuring voters that the election process remains peaceful, transparent, and credible.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday in Okitipupa while monitoring the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mr. Mutiu Agboke, acknowledged reports of network-related issues affecting voter accreditation in some polling units but said the commission’s technical team was already working to resolve the problem.

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“It is something from the centre and our technical team is looking at it. We are using machines and anything can happen. What is important is our ability to respond professionally and resolve any challenge that arises,” Agboke stated.

Despite the challenges, the REC expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the by-election, noting that most polling units opened on time, with electoral officials arriving early to commence voting.

“We saw enthusiasm among voters to participate in the election. Our officials were at the polling units early and, largely, most of the polling units opened on time,” he said.

Agboke further revealed that security personnel had been strategically deployed across the six local government areas involved in the election, adding that no incidents of violence or casualties had been recorded.

On voter turnout, he said it was still too early to provide an accurate assessment, explaining that INEC would rely on data generated from its monitoring dashboard before making any official declaration.

Also speaking, INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, clarified the process of transmitting and collating election results, particularly regarding the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

“After counting at each polling unit and entering the scores in the appropriate forms, the result sheets will be uploaded to IReV using the BVAS machine. The physical copies will then move from the polling unit to the Registration Area collation centre, the local government collation centre and finally the senatorial collation centre,” Ajayi explained.

He also dismissed the misconception that IReV automatically calculates election results.

“Some people think that IReV automatically provides total scores. No, it does not. It only displays the uploaded result sheets. The final result will be determined at the senatorial collation centre where all scores are collated,” he said.

The Ondo South Senatorial District by-election is being conducted to fill the vacant seat left by former senator Jimoh Ibrahim following his appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The Rivers State Police Command has announced a restriction of movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles across seven local government areas ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The affected local government areas are Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo, and Opobo/Nkoro.

The election, which will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is being held to fill the vacant senatorial seat following the death of former representative Barry Mpigi, who passed away in February.

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In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the restriction will run from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, as saying the measure forms part of comprehensive security arrangements to ensure a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process.

According to the police, the restriction is aimed at enhancing public safety, protecting electoral officials and materials, preventing electoral malpractice, and ensuring voters can exercise their civic duty without fear, intimidation, or harassment.

The statement read in part: “The Rivers State Police Command hereby notifies members of the public, particularly residents of Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, of a temporary restriction on movement ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District By-Election scheduled to hold on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”

“As part of comprehensive security measures put in place to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process, the movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles within the affected Local Government Areas will be restricted from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, 19th June 2026, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”

The command warned that anyone who violates the order or engages in electoral offences such as vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery, or any act capable of disrupting the election will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.

“The Command warns that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process or participating in any form of electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery or any other unlawful activity will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.”

The police urged political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected LGAs to remain peaceful and cooperate fully with security agencies.

“CP Olugbenga Adepoju calls on all political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected Local Government Areas to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies to ensure a successful electoral exercise.”

The command assured that adequate security personnel have been deployed in collaboration with other agencies to protect lives, property, and electoral materials throughout the exercise.

“The Command wishes to reassure the public that robust security arrangements have been put in place, in collaboration with other security and relevant agencies, to ensure the protection of lives and property, safeguard electoral materials, and guarantee a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.”

Residents were also advised to stay alert and report suspicious movements to security authorities.

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it will not participate in the proposed local government election scheduled for December 26, 2026, accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of attempting to retain political influence after leaving office.

The opposition party described the planned poll as illegal, ill-conceived, and designed to install individuals loyal to the governor in local government councils ahead of the end of his tenure on May 29, 2027.

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) had initially fixed January 2027 for the election but later moved it to December 2026 following the release of the timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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The rescheduling has drawn criticism from political stakeholders, who questioned the need for fresh local government elections barely six months before the tenure of the current chairmen and councillors expires across the state’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by the APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party announced its decision to boycott the poll and vowed to work with other stakeholders to stop what it described as an attempt to waste public resources.

According to the APC, the proposed election is part of a broader plan by Governor Makinde to maintain control of local government administration after leaving office.

“The same Makinde is now trying to impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving Agodi Government House, and he knows he cannot do this after the conduct of the 2027 general elections, the outcome of which would strip him of all political power and influence,” the statement said.

The party also accused the governor of opposing local government autonomy and interfering with grassroots democracy.

“The whole world knows that Gov. Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy, and when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything,” APC stated.

The opposition party further alleged that local government funds had been mismanaged under the current administration, citing Oriire Local Government as an example.

“Or how can one explain the situation whereby a local government council like Oriire receives over N550 million in monthly allocation from the federal government, and there is nothing to show for it because a governor sits on the money in the name of Joint Account operation with his own office?” the statement queried.

The APC also linked the issue to insecurity in some rural communities, claiming that poor local government administration had left some areas vulnerable to attacks.

“It is sad that Gov. Makinde wishes for the continuation of the system that exposed Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area and other rural communities in the state to bandit attacks,” the party alleged.

Describing previous local government elections in the state as fraudulent, the APC insisted that residents would no longer tolerate what it called manipulated electoral exercises.

“The fraud called local government polls in 2020 and 2024 are the last that the good people of the state would witness,” the statement added.

The party urged OYSIEC to halt preparations for the December election, maintaining that the exercise lacks legitimacy and would neither strengthen democracy nor address challenges facing local councils across the state.

APC further insisted that the people of Oyo State are demanding genuine local government autonomy, transparency, and democratic governance at the grassroots level.