The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured residents of Osun State that the August 15 governorship election will be free, fair, credible and peaceful, warning that anyone involved in vote buying, electoral violence or any attempt to disrupt the process will face the full weight of the law.
The assurance was given on Thursday during the signing of the Osun State Peace Accord in Osogbo, organised by the National Peace Committee. The event brought together political party leaders, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, who pledged their commitment to peaceful campaigns and credible elections.
Speaking at the event, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), said the commission had successfully completed seven of the nine scheduled electoral activities, with the remaining milestones being the end of campaigns on August 13 and the governorship election on August 15.
He disclosed that more than 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election and announced that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been extended until July 31 to encourage greater voter participation.
Amupitan said INEC had strengthened security arrangements through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), adopting intelligence-led deployments to identified flashpoints across the state.
According to him, about 2,000 polling units have been classified as vulnerable, with additional security personnel to be deployed to safeguard voters, election officials and sensitive materials.
“We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force,” he said, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to neutrality, transparency and credible elections.
The INEC chairman also announced that a statewide mock accreditation exercise would be conducted on August 1 to test the commission’s technology and logistics ahead of the governorship poll.
Representing the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), Cardinal John Onaiyekan described the Peace Accord as a solemn commitment rather than a ceremonial exercise.
He urged political parties and their supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns, obey the rule of law and accept the outcome of the election in the interest of democracy.
“Elections will come and go. In every election, somebody will win while others will lose. Life will continue. Therefore, all political actors must abide by both the spirit and the letter of this Peace Accord,” Onaiyekan said.
He also called on INEC and security agencies to remain impartial, stressing that the credibility of the election would depend on the professionalism of election officials and security personnel.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasuba assured residents that comprehensive security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful, free and credible election across the state.
He said security agencies would remain neutral while maintaining law and order before, during and after the election.
Also addressing the gathering, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, appealed to politicians and their supporters to reject violence, vote buying and inflammatory rhetoric.
The monarch reminded citizens that while politicians may reconcile after elections, ordinary people often bear the consequences of electoral violence.
“Power belongs to the people. Go out peacefully, vote according to your conscience, and return home peacefully. Do not allow anyone to buy your conscience or lure you into violence,” the Ooni said.
The event ended with governorship candidates and representatives of participating political parties signing the Peace Accord, committing themselves to issue-based campaigns and respect for the outcome of the August 15 election.
Following the ceremony, Prof. Amupitan led INEC National Commissioners, directors, technical staff and the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, on an assessment tour of selected local government areas to evaluate the commission’s operational preparedness for the governorship election.
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