The Independent National Electoral Commission has been dealt a major logistical blow just 22 days before the Osun State governorship election, following a High Court ruling that compels the electoral body to scrap already-printed ballot papers and begin afresh.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan confirmed the development on Friday during a visit to former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna, Niger State. The court order, he said, mandates the inclusion of a political party that was previously omitted from the ballot — a decision that arrived after printing had been completed.
“Just yesterday, my Legal Director informed me of a court order directing us to add another political party after we had already printed ballot papers for Osun State,” Amupitan told the former military leader. “All those ballot papers will likely have to be canceled and reprinted.”
The revelation casts a shadow over preparations for the August 15 governorship poll, with INEC now racing against time to produce new ballots while managing what Amupitan described as a “trust deficiency” among the public and political actors.
He cited frequent pre-election litigation as one of the commission’s biggest operational headaches, lamenting that sudden judicial interventions often upend months of planning.
Despite the setback, the INEC chairman pledged that the commission would not compromise on the integrity of the election. He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to deploying modern technology and ensuring that votes cast in Osun — and in the 2027 general elections — would count.
Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who chairs the National Peace Committee, received Amupitan alongside his top management team and offered the electoral chief a stark piece of counsel: remain impartial, ignore the noise, and stick to his oath.
“With the politicians, you need to do a lot to gain their confidence because whatever you and your commissioners do, you will stand accused of bias one way or another,” Abdulsalami said. “If anybody in the political system loses an election, you become the whipping child.”
The former Head of State urged Amupitan to close his ears to distractions, noting that politicians are “difficult to please” and would always find excuses to fault INEC.
“The INEC chairman cannot do this job alone, but the buck stops with you. I am absolutely sure that you will abide by the oath you took. You must do justice to all and sundry. All political parties are yours; you do not have any political party to call your own,” he added.
Abdulsalami described the Osun election as a critical dress rehearsal for the 2027 national polls and disclosed that the National Peace Committee would meet in Abuja on July 29, ahead of the formal Peace Accord signing scheduled for July 30 in Osogbo.
The INEC chairman’s visit to Minna also took him to the residence of another former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, as part of what he described as an effort to draw from the wealth of governance experience of the nation’s elder statesmen.
Amupitan praised Abdulsalami’s leadership of the National Peace Committee, crediting the Peace Accord initiative with providing a vital platform for political actors to commit to non-violence.
“This prevails against disharmony and discord, for which INEC is forever grateful to you, Sir,” he said. “Since the transition period in 1999, you have been involved in peacebuilding not just in Nigeria, but across Africa. History will be kind to you.”
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Amupitan expressed delight that both former leaders commended INEC’s dedication and pledged their continued support.
He used the opportunity to remind eligible voters that the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise closes on Sunday, July 26, urging citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.
With the August 15 election fast approaching, all eyes are now on INEC’s ability to execute a flawless reprint and distribution of ballot papers across the state’s 30 local government areas.
The commission has not disclosed the cost implications of the cancellation, but sources within INEC suggest the reprint will put significant pressure on the commission’s timeline and budget.
Amupitan, however, struck an optimistic tone, assuring Nigerians that INEC would overcome the hurdles.
“Despite these issues and the trust deficiency we currently face, we continue to do our best for a successful election,” he said.
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