The Osun State House of Assembly has criticised the sudden redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state ahead of the 2026 governorship election. Speaker Adewale Egbedun addressed journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, April 9, 2026, describing the move as unacceptable.
INEC REC Mutiu Agboke announced his transfer to Ondo State late on Wednesday through the commission’s official media WhatsApp group. He thanked residents for their support during his time in Osun. The redeployment comes as preparations intensify for the governorship poll scheduled for August 15, 2026.

The assembly expressed concern over plans for further redeployments of key INEC personnel, including the Administrative Secretary, Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers, and ICT staff. Lawmakers alleged a deliberate pattern aimed at influencing the electoral process, particularly in the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District.
Speaker Egbedun questioned why such widespread changes target Osun while similar actions are absent in Ekiti State, which also faces a governorship election. He warned that anyone deployed to conduct the poll must strictly follow the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Egbedun stated: “These calculated efforts, no matter how structured, cannot alter the resolve of our people. The people of Osun State are politically conscious, vigilant, and determined to ensure that their votes count and reflect their true choice.”
He placed the public on notice and vowed that the people of Osun would resist any attempt to compromise the process. The speaker called on the international community, development partners, and election observers to closely monitor the election to ensure it remains free, fair, and credible.

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the PDP is seeking re-election, while the APC fields Bola Oyebamiji and the ADC fields Najeem Salaam, among candidates from 11 other parties. The assembly insisted that no amount of personnel changes would override the will of Osun voters.