Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and other contestants have committed themselves to a peaceful electoral process by signing a peace accord ahead of August 15 governorship election.
The peace pact was signed less than three weeks before voters head to the polls to elect the next governor of the state.
The event brought together candidates and representatives of political parties participating in the election, as well as key stakeholders from the electoral, security and traditional institutions.
A total of 14 political parties taking part in the election were represented at the ceremony. While some candidates attended in person, others sent representatives to sign on their behalf.
Governor Adeleke was present at the event, while APC candidate Oyebamiji was represented by his running mate, Engr. Kayode Adereti, alongside senior officials of the party.
The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salam, was also represented by party leaders, including the state chairman.
Other candidates who participated in the exercise included Hon. Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress (AAC).
The accord was facilitated by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The event attracted prominent figures from across the country, including religious leaders, security chiefs and traditional rulers.
Among those who witnessed the signing were the Convener of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, represented by Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Fasuba Olabode; and the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Ojo Amupitan.
Traditional rulers from different parts of the state were also present, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Speaking during the event, former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, urged politicians, their supporters and other stakeholders to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the electoral process.
According to him, the peace accord would only be meaningful if all parties abide by the commitments they willingly made.
“There is a need to embrace a peaceful poll. This election will go. I urge you to respect all the dictates of the Peace Accord you are all signing today,” he said.
Onaiyekan stressed that peaceful elections remain essential to democracy and warned against actions capable of creating tension before, during and after voting.
The police also assured residents of adequate security arrangements ahead of the election.
Speaking on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, AIG Fasuba Olabode disclosed that security personnel had already begun arriving in Osun State in preparation for election duties.
He assured political parties and voters that only accredited security agencies would be allowed to participate in election operations.
“Don’t entertain any fear. Police have started entering the state for election duty. Only the recognised security agencies will be allowed for election duties. All things will go well before, during, and after the election,” he said.
The assurance comes amid heightened political activities across the state as parties intensify campaigns in the final days leading to the election.
INEC also reiterated its commitment to conducting a credible and transparent election.
The electoral commission said it was taking additional steps to curb vote-buying and other electoral offences that could undermine the integrity of the process.
Speaking at the event, INEC Chairman, Prof. Ojo Amupitan, commended the National Peace Committee for bringing political actors together and encouraging them to embrace peaceful conduct.
He said the initiative would complement the commission’s efforts to deliver a successful election.
Amupitan disclosed that security and anti-corruption agencies had developed a coordinated strategy to tackle vote trading across polling units in the state.
“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,” he said.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also appealed to residents to reject violence and avoid being used by politicians to destabilise the state.
The monarch noted that while political actors may disagree during campaigns, ordinary citizens often bear the consequences when elections turn violent.
“Power belongs to the people; power is in the hands of all of us. So I want to appeal to each and every one of us. We do not want violence. The political tension is too much, and you know our political gladiators,” he said.
The traditional ruler further reminded residents that political alliances often change after elections, urging them not to sacrifice peace and stability because of political interests.
“I always tell everybody there is no permanent friend among them; we are the ones who will suffer. Later on, they will go and align and leave all of us behind. They are always aligning, agreeing, and disagreeing. But what is critical is that Osun is bigger than all of us,” the monarch added.