Adeleke, Oyebamiji and 12 Others Sign Osun Election Peace Accord
Seventeen days before the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, Governor Ademola Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and twelve other contenders signed a peace accord aimed at ensuring a tranquil vote.
The ceremony, organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saw representatives from the fourteen political parties contesting the election. Candidates who could not attend were stood in for by party officials.
Oyebamiji was represented by his running mate, Kayode Adereti, alongside other APC leaders, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam, was represented by party officials including the state chairman.
Notable witnesses included NPC convener Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Inspector‑General of Police represented by Assistant Inspector‑General Fasuba Olabode of Zone XI, and INEC Chairman Prof. Ojo Amupitan. Traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also attended.
In his opening remarks, former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan urged all political actors and stakeholders to uphold the accord and guarantee a free, fair and credible election.
The police representative assured residents that officers had already begun deploying to the state and that only recognised security agencies would be permitted to perform election duties.
INEC Chairman Prof. Ojo Amupitan praised the NPC’s initiative, stating that the accord would bolster the commission’s efforts to conduct a peaceful poll. He added that INEC is collaborating with anti‑graft agencies and the Office of the Attorney‑General of the Federation to combat vote‑buying, deploying plainclothes financial intelligence officers around polling units to arrest anyone attempting to buy or sell votes under the Electoral Act 2026.
The Ooni of Ife appealed to citizens not to let politicians manipulate them into violence or electoral malpractice, reminding everyone that power belongs to the people and urging residents to reject political rivalries that could destabilise the state.
