Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has raised a critical alarm over what he describes as a coordinated plot by the opposition to compromise the state’s voters’ register.
​Speaking through an official statement issued on Friday, July 10, 2026, by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor alleged that opposition elements have commenced the illegal “mopping up” of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) across various local government areas in the state.
​According to the state government, intelligence reports indicate that desperate political actors are targeting vulnerable communities, offering monetary inducements and other pecuniary gains to buy off valid PVCs from citizens. The Governor noted that the tactical collection of these cards is aimed at disenfranchising legitimate voters and tampering with the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through proxy manipulation.
​Reacting to the development from the Government House in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke urged the populace to fiercely protect their civic power, stating that a vote cannot be replaced by temporary financial rewards.
​”Our attention has been drawn to a subterranean plot by opposition figures who are deeply terrified of the upcoming 2026 governorship election. They have resorted to buying up PVCs under the guise of empowerment schemes or direct financial trades. I charge the good people of Osun State to resist this trap. Do not sell your future or surrender your PVCs to anyone, no matter the amount offered,” Governor Adeleke warned.
​He added that the state’s voters are highly enlightened and courageous, noting that “the power to decide leadership rests squarely with the ballot.”
​The Governor further revealed that law enforcement and security agencies across the state have been briefed on the situation to crack down on individuals or groups involved in illegal PVC collections. He reiterated that his administration remains deeply committed to a transparent, credible, and peaceful democratic process.
​Meanwhile, political observers in the state note that tensions are already rising as parties structure their campaigns ahead of the highly competitive 2026 gubernatorial election cycle, with the ruling party and the opposition trading accusations over electoral integrity.
​Governor Adeleke concluded by calling on community leaders, youth groups, and civil society organizations to sensitize grassroots voters against releasing their cards, reaffirming that “no amount of financial manipulation or intimidation will override the collective will of the Osun electorate.”
