INEC chair seeks Osun monarchs’ support to de-escalate tension

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has appealed to traditional rulers in Osun State for their intervention in de-escalating tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election. During a visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Prof. Amupitan stressed the critical importance of the upcoming poll, describing it as the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria.

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We are here, our royal fathers, to seek your royal blessings and tap into your fatherly wisdom. This election is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election, we move straight into the general election.

Prof. Amupitan stated that the Osun election would serve as a crucial mirror for the 2027 general elections. He expressed concerns regarding the security situation in the state and urged the royal fathers to use their influence to ensure political actors prioritize a peaceful process. "We have had concerns in the past few weeks over the security situation in Osun State, and that is why, as the custodian of our people, we want to appeal to our royal fathers to help us appeal to our politicians, the political actors and political parties to ensure that this election is peaceful," he said.

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As far as we are concerned, an election is successful if it is peaceful, if it starts on time and ends on time and if the result is collated transparently at a good time.

The INEC chairman emphasized the commission's commitment to rebuilding public trust through credible, fair, free, and transparent elections. He assured the royal fathers and the public that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed to ensure the integrity of the vote, preventing issues like ballot paper theft. "Help us tell them that the blood of innocent people is not worth the governorship election. So nobody should be killed, or should be ill-treated, or should be harassed," Amupitan pleaded, underscoring the commission's desire for a violence-free electoral process.

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We have had concerns in the past few weeks over the security situation in Osun State, and that is why, as the custodian of our people, we want to appeal to our royal fathers to help us appeal to our politicians, the political actors and political parties to ensure that this election is peaceful.