Political parties and candidates participating in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State have signed a Peace Accord with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Osun Peace Accord was organised by the National Peace Committee chaired by former Head of State, AbdulSalami Abubakar and convener, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, in Osogbo, the State capital.
The event was attended by governorship candidates and their running mates, political party leaders, security chiefs, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, said the accord was a commitment to peaceful conduct and should not be treated as a mere formality.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to strictly adhere to both the letter and spirit of the agreement, saying, “By signing this Peace Accord today, we are not only affirming our dedication to non-violence and mutual respect among all political actors, but we are also sending a powerful, unambiguous message to our citizens that democracy thrives when peace prevails. Each of us has a sacred role to play.”
He said IINEC’scommitment to the letters of the Accord reflects advanced operational readiness, saying out of the nine scheduled activities specified in the commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, seven have been successfully executed.
“We are now left with only two final milestones: the conclusion of public campaigns on Thursday, 13th August 2026, and the opening of polls on Saturday, 15th August 2026. Our deployment will cover 30 Local Government Areas and the Modakeke Area Office, spanning 332 Registration Areas (Wards) and 3,763 Polling Units. Following automated biometric purging (ABIS), the certified Register of Voters stands at 2,339,233 eligible citizens.
“Let me state unequivocally that INEC does not look for a particular outcome; we are interested only in a lawful process. We have refined our logistics, audited our technological frameworks, and fortified result management paths to eliminate systemic vulnerabilities. However, institutional readiness cannot stand alone without political decorum.
“If campaigns are characterised by incitement, private armed squads, or subversion, the process is compromised long before the first ballot is cast.
“Furthermore, we are attacking vote-buying head-on. In direct synergy with the EFCC and ICPC and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, plainclothes financial intelligence officers will saturate polling unit perimeters. Anyone attempting to buy or sell votes-whether through physical cash or digital transfers-will be arrested and prosecuted under the Electoral Act 2026,” INEC boss said.
Also speaking, the National Peace Committee chairman, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martins Agwai, appealed to all governorship candidates and their supporters to conduct the remainder of their campaigns with restraint, civility and respect for the law.
The convener, Bishop Kukah, said the signing of the Peace Accord represented a public reaffirmation before the people of Osun State and the nation of the commitment of political actors to conduct themselves with restraint, respect for the rule of law and fidelity to democratic principles.
