The Independent National Electoral Commission has shut down its Situation Room after concluding the August 15 Osun State governorship election. The closure followed the declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as winner in the early hours of Sunday. INEC announced the development through a statement shared on its official X account. Speaking to staff before the closure, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, praised personnel involved in the electoral exercise.
Amupitan commended workers at the commission’s headquarters, Osun State office, local government offices and polling units. He also recognised technical teams that supported the election across the state. According to him, many staff members worked for extended hours under demanding conditions. He noted that some personnel sacrificed time with their families to ensure the election was properly conducted.
The INEC chairman also attributed the peaceful atmosphere recorded during the poll to the grace and protection of God. Amupitan described the Osun election Situation Room as an important part of the commission’s electoral operations. However, he stressed that the exercise should be viewed as a learning experience ahead of a bigger national assignment.
“The Osun election is a milestone, not a destination,” he said.
He urged INEC personnel to study the experience gained from the election and use it to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan also charged staff to maintain vigilance, transparency and professionalism. He emphasised the importance of strict neutrality in carrying out their responsibilities. The INEC chairman reminded personnel that the commission occupies a critical position in protecting Nigeria’s democratic process.
He therefore urged them to remain committed to their responsibilities as the country moves towards the 2027 elections. Following the address, the commission formally closed the Osun election Situation Room, bringing its central monitoring operations for the governorship poll to an end.
The closure came after the State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner at about 7:24am on Sunday. Adeleke, contesting on the platform of the Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes. His closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes.
The incumbent governor won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in the remaining 11. With the election concluded, INEC has now shifted attention towards applying lessons from the Osun exercise to its preparations for the 2027 general election.
