Peace Accord Signed by Osun Candidates
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 aspirants have signed a peace accord ahead of the poll.
Key Figures Attend the Ceremony
The signing ceremony was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Representatives of the fourteen political parties contesting the election were present, with absent candidates represented by party officials.
Oyebamiji was represented by his running mate, Kayode Adereti, and other APC leaders, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam, stood in for his party through its state chairman and other officials.
Statements from Religious and Traditional Leaders
The accord was witnessed by NPC convener Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Inspector‑General of Police Olatunji Disu (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 the event.
In his opening remarks, former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan urged all political actors and stakeholders to uphold the peace agreement and ensure a free, fair and credible election.
Police and INEC Assurances
The police representative assured residents that officers would act professionally before, during and after the election, noting that election‑duty personnel had already begun arriving in the state.
INEC Chairman Prof. Ojo Amupitan commended the NPC for the initiative, stating that the accord would support the commission’s efforts to conduct a peaceful election. He added that INEC is working with anti‑graft agencies and the Office of the Attorney‑General of the Federation to combat vote‑buying.
Amupitan warned that plainclothes financial intelligence officers from the EFCC, ICPC and the Attorney‑General’s office will patrol polling unit perimeters, and anyone attempting to buy or sell votes—whether with cash or digital transfers—will be arrested and prosecuted under the Electoral Act 2026.
Traditional Appeal for Peace
The Ooni of Ife appealed to residents not to be used by politicians to perpetrate violence or electoral malpractice, emphasising that power belongs to the people and urging everyone to reject political rivalries that could lead to unrest.
