Osun poll: INEC seeks monarchs’ help to reduce election tension

Ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is enlisting the support of traditional rulers to help deescalate political tensions. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan met with monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to seek their "royal blessings" and "fatherly wisdom" in ensuring a peaceful electoral process.

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We are here, our royal fathers, to seek your royal blessings and tap into your fatherly wisdom.

Amupitan emphasized the significance of the Osun poll, calling it the "most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria" and a vital precursor to the 2027 general elections. He stated that the commission views the state's election as a "mirror" through which the upcoming national polls can be assessed. "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," he added.

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This vote is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election, we move straight into the general election.

The INEC chairman voiced concerns regarding the security situation in Osun State in recent weeks. He appealed to the traditional rulers, as "custodians of our people," to use their influence to persuade politicians and political parties to guarantee a peaceful election. "Help us tell them that the blood of innocent people is not worth the governorship election. So nobody should be killed, or should be illtreated, or should be harassed," Amupitan urged.

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So we look at Osun as a mirror through which we can see the general election that is coming up next year.

INEC assured voters that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed to ensure that every vote is counted accurately. The commission is committed to rebuilding public trust not just through rhetoric but by conducting credible, fair, free, and transparent elections.

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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.