OSIEC Refuses To Accredit Journalists For Osun LG Election

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has refused to accredit journalists seeking to cover the controversial local government elections taking place today.

OSIEC’s Information Officer, Sadiat Isiaka, had announced that only media organizations and observer groups with official tags and jackets issued by the commission would be allowed access to polling stations, wards, local government offices, and the Central Collation Centre.

She warned that any journalist or observer without proper authorization would not be permitted to cover the election, emphasizing that unauthorized individuals would be treated as impostors.

“Any unauthorized media or observer team without an authorization letter, official jackets, and tags from the Commission will be treated as an impostor,” Isiaka warned.

Despite this, journalists—especially those from print and broadcast media under the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ)—were unable to obtain accreditation.

The Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Shina Abubakar, confirmed the situation, saying OSIEC had refused to issue the necessary permits for media coverage.

This restriction has sparked concerns about the transparency of the election and the ability of the public to receive credible updates on the process.

Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke participated in the election, casting his vote at his polling unit on Saturday morning.