The Edo State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and National Democratic Congress, NDC, have declared that they will boycott the local government elections slated for next Saturday.

DAILY POST reports that the Edo State local government election is scheduled for July 11, 2026, to elect chairmen for the 18 councils as well as 192 ward councillors.

A statement by the Dr. Tony Aziegbemi-led faction of the PDP opined that illegality cannot produce legitimacy.

The statement, signed by Aziegbemi and dated July 2, 2026, said the decision of the party not to participate in the council election was taken at the State Executive Committee meeting held at the party’s secretariat on July 1, 2026.

The statement, titled, “Illegality Cannot Produce Legitimacy: Edo State PDP Will Not Participate in the July 11, 2026 Local Government Election,”

said the decision to boycott the election was borne out of the party’s unwavering commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic governance.

He also attributed the boycott to the dissolution of democratically elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors and their replacement with unelected caretaker committees, contrary to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The dissolution of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) before the expiration of its statutory tenure and the appointment of a new commission to conduct the proposed election.

“Refusal to obey eight High Court judgments reinstating elected council chairmen to their offices,” he said.

Aziegbemi posited that a process founded on constitutional violations cannot produce a legitimate democratic outcome, vowing that “we will not legitimise illegality.”

According to him, the PDP cannot, in good conscience, participate in an electoral exercise designed to validate unconstitutional actions. To do so would amount to endorsing lawlessness and betraying the democratic mandate of the people of Edo State.

He said the position of the party is that it would not field candidates or participate in the July 11, 2026, local government election.

“All units, wards, LGA executives, party leaders, members, and supporters are advised to refrain from participating in the exercise.

“The party will continue to pursue all lawful and constitutional means to defend democracy and protect the mandate of the people,” he stated.

While noting that the party would continue to stand for democracy, he assured that it remains resolute in defending the Constitution, the rule of law, and the sovereignty of the people.

On his part, Hon. Kennedy Odion, the factional chairman of the ADC in the state, said the party would be boycotting the election because the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) failed to sign a memorandum of understanding that electoral materials must get to all polling units, wards, and local governments.

Odion said other conditions were to ensure that the process is free, fair, and credible, and that the commission must be seen to be independent.

He said the electoral body failed to sign the MoU.

Also speaking, the NDC state secretary, Hon. Peter Ajube, said he was not aware that the party would be participating in the exercise.

He said the processes for the election were almost completed before the party came on board in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced that 2,339,233 registered voters are eligible to participate in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Osun State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed the figure on Thursday during the presentation of the Electronic Register of Voters to political parties in Osogbo.

Babalola described the presentation as a significant milestone in the commission’s preparations for the governorship election, saying the register would enhance transparency, inclusiveness and credibility in the electoral process.

She explained that the exercise was carried out in compliance with Sections 19 and 20 of the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended), which mandate INEC to compile, maintain, update and make available the register of voters to political parties within the stipulated period before elections.

According to her, “The electronic register will enable political parties to review the list of eligible voters across the state, plan their campaigns effectively and engage the electorate in a lawful and meaningful manner.”

She urged political parties to use the register responsibly to deepen voter education, encourage citizens’ participation in the electoral process and promote higher voter turnout on election day.

Babalola, however, warned against the misuse of the register for electoral offences, including vote-buying, voter inducement and intimidation.

“The Register of Voters must never be used as an instrument to perpetuate vote buying, voter inducement, intimidation, or any other form of electoral malpractice.

“Rather, it should serve as a legitimate means of reaching out to voters with ideas, programmes, and policies that will enable them to make informed choices. Elections should be contests of ideas and visions for development, not competitions based on inducement or other electoral offences,” she added.

The REC reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent governorship election in Osun State.

She said the commission had continued to put in place the necessary administrative, operational, technological and logistical arrangements required for the successful conduct of the election while maintaining professionalism, impartiality and integrity.

Babalola appealed to political parties, candidates, supporters and residents of the state to remain peaceful, law-abiding and cooperative throughout the electoral process.

She stressed that credible elections require the collective support of political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, election observers and the electorate.

“I therefore urge everyone to reject violence, hate speech, misinformation, vote buying, and every other act capable of undermining the credibility of the election. Let us continue to work together in the interest of democracy and the progress of Osun State,” she said.

The INEC boss thanked political parties and other stakeholders for sustaining a peaceful political atmosphere in Osun State and formally presented the Electronic Register of Voters to the parties.

She expressed confidence that continued cooperation among stakeholders would strengthen the credibility of the August 15 governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged journalists and media organisations to verify every election-related claim before publication, describing disinformation and misinformation as major threats to the credibility of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, gave the charge on Thursday during a dialogue and interactive forum with journalists and critical stakeholders organised by the International Press Centre, IPC, under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase II, EU-SDGN II, programme in Osogbo.

Speaking on the theme, ‘INEC’s Preparations, the Media’s Role in Voter Education, and Countering Electoral Disinformation and Misinformation Ahead of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election’, Babalola said false information could create unnecessary panic, suppress voter turnout, damage public confidence and trigger avoidable tensions.

She urged journalists to remain vigilant by verifying election-related claims, relying on official information from INEC and other authorised institutions, promptly correcting inaccurate reports and working with fact-checking organisations to debunk false narratives.

According to her, “One of the greatest threats to credible elections today is the deliberate spread of false information. Disinformation and misinformation can create unnecessary panic, suppress voter turnout, damage public confidence, and trigger avoidable tensions.”

The REC said preparations for the governorship election were progressing in line with the Electoral Act, INEC Regulations and Guidelines, as well as established operational procedures.

She explained that the commission had continued to engage political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and the media while strengthening voter education, training election personnel, testing election technologies and reviewing logistics for the poll.

Babalola also disclosed that INEC was coordinating security preparations through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, to ensure a peaceful electoral environment, adding that the commission would continue to provide timely updates through its official communication channels.

She described the media as an indispensable partner in the electoral process, saying a well-informed electorate remained fundamental to the success of any democratic election.

“The media has a constitutional and professional responsibility to educate citizens on electoral processes, promote issue-based campaigns, explain voting procedures and encourage peaceful participation,” she said.

She advised media organisations to provide accurate voter education, ensure equitable coverage of political parties and candidates, amplify official information from INEC, discourage hate speech and promote issue-based rather than personality-driven campaigns.

Babalola stressed that accuracy, fairness, balance and professionalism should remain the guiding principles of election reporting, noting that informed voters were better equipped to make independent electoral choices and resist manipulation through false information.

Babalola reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to openness, accountability and continuous engagement with stakeholders, saying the responsibility for delivering a peaceful, credible and acceptable election rests not on the commission alone but on the collective commitment of the media, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and voters.

Earlier, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said the stakeholders’ interface formed part of ongoing efforts under the EU-SDGN II programme to strengthen media professionalism, counter misinformation and promote inclusive electoral participation ahead of the Osun governorship election.

Also speaking, Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, Dr Akin Akingbulu, called on journalists to intensify civic and voter education, strengthen fact-checking and uphold conflict-sensitive reporting, noting that the Osun governorship election would serve as an important test of the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.