The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally closed its Situation Room following the conclusion of the August 15 Osun State governorship election and the declaration of the results in the early hours of Sunday.
The commission announced the closure in a statement posted on its official X handle on Sunday.
Addressing staff at the Situation Room, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, commended personnel at the commission’s headquarters, Osun State and Local Government offices, as well as those deployed to polling units and technical teams, for their dedication and professionalism throughout the electoral process.
Amupitan acknowledged the long hours and difficult conditions under which many staff worked, noting that some sacrificed time with their families to ensure the successful conduct of the election and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The INEC chairman also attributed the peaceful conduct of the election to the grace and protection of Almighty God.
He described the Osun election as “a milestone, not a destination,” stressing that lessons learnt from the exercise would guide the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
Amupitan urged INEC officials to remain vigilant, transparent, professional and strictly neutral in carrying out their responsibilities.
“Let us learn from our experience, refine our strategies and approach the upcoming national task with renewed vigour and absolute neutrality,” he said, urging staff to remain steadfast as “gatekeepers of our nation’s democracy.”
The State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, had earlier declared the Accord Party candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, winner of the election at about 7:24am on Sunday.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
The governor won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 Local Government Areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11.
With the declaration of the result and subsequent closure of the Situation Room, INEC has brought its central monitoring and oversight operations for the Osun governorship election to an end.
