INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Osun residents of a credible and peaceful governorship election on August 15, warning that anyone involved in vote buying, electoral violence or attempts to disrupt the poll will face the full weight of the law.
The event, organised by the National Peace Committee, brought together political party leaders, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to reinforce their commitment to peaceful, free and credible elections in the state.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Thursday at the signing of the Osun State Peace Accord in Osogbo, where political parties contesting the election pledged to conduct peaceful campaigns and abide by the outcome of the poll
According to him, seven out of the nine scheduled electoral activities had already been completed, while the remaining milestones include the conclusion of campaigns on August 13 and the governorship election on August 15.
Amupitan disclosed that over 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election, adding that the commission had extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) until July 31 to improve voter participation.
Addressing concerns over insecurity, the INEC chairman said the commission had adopted a proactive security strategy through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), with intelligence-led deployments to identified flashpoints across the state.
He revealed that about 2,000 polling units had been classified as vulnerable, with additional security personnel to be deployed to ensure the safety of voters, election officials, and materials.
“We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force,” Amupitan declared, reaffirming INEC’s commitment to neutrality and transparency.
He also announced that the commission would conduct a statewide mock accreditation exercise on August 1 to test its technology and logistics ahead of the election.
Speaking at the signing ceremony,Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who represented the committee’s chairman, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), said the accord was more than a ceremonial exercise, stressing that it was a solemn commitment to peaceful conduct.
Onaiyekan appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct campaigns responsibly, respect the rule of law, and accept the outcome of the election in the spirit 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,” he said.
He also charged INEC and security agencies to remain impartial, noting that credible elections depend not only on political parties but also on the professionalism of election administrators and security personnel.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Akinyele Fasuba assured residents that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election across Osun State.
He said security agencies would remain neutral while maintaining law and order before, during, and after the election.
Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, appealed to politicians and their supporters to avoid violence, vote buying, and inflammatory rhetoric.
The monarch reminded the electorate that political alliances often change after elections, while ordinary citizens 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 urged.
The event concluded with candidates and representatives of the political parties signing the Peace Accord, pledging to conduct issue-based campaigns and respect the outcome of the 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 readiness ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
