Osun guber: INEC uncovers 2,000 polling units as violence flashpoints, pledges commitment to credible, hitch-free poll
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, says the commission has identified about 2,000 polling units as flashpoints for violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun state.
According to a statement issued by the commission, Amupitan spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, on Thursday at the signing of the peace accord, where political parties contesting the election pledged to conduct peaceful campaigns and abide by the outcome of the poll.
He said INEC had adopted a proactive security strategy through the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES), with intelligence-led deployments to identified flashpoints across the state.
Amupitan said additional security personnel would be deployed to ensure the safety of voters, election officials, and electoral materials.
Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to neutrality and transparency, he warned that anyone involved in vote-buying, electoral violence, or attempts to disrupt the poll would face the full weight of the law.
“We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force,” he declared.
He assured that the commission would conduct a peaceful and hitch-free election in Osun, noting that seven of the nine scheduled electoral activities had already been completed.
He added that the remaining milestones include the conclusion of campaigns on August 13 and the conduct of the governorship election on August 15.
The INEC chairman said over 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election, adding that the commission had extended the collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) until July 31 to improve voter participation.
He added that the commission would conduct a statewide mock accreditation exercise on August 1 to test its technology and logistics ahead of the election.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, and chairman of the national peace committee, said the accord was more than a ceremonial exercise, stressing that it was a solemn commitment to peaceful conduct.
Represented by John Onaiyekan, former archbishop of Abuja, Abdulsalami appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct campaigns responsibly, respect the rule of law, and accept the outcome of the election in the spirit of democracy.
“Elections will come and go. In every election, somebody will win while others will lose. Life will continue. Therefore, all political actors must abide by both the spirit and the letter of this peace accord,” he said.
He urged INEC and security agencies to remain impartial, noting that credible elections depend not only on political parties but also on the professionalism of election administrators and security personnel.
Also speaking at the event, Tunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), represented by Akinyele Fasuba, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), assured residents that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election across the state.
He said security agencies would remain neutral while maintaining law and order before, during, and after the election.
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, appealed to politicians and their supporters to shun violence, vote-buying, and inflammatory rhetoric.
Candidates and representatives of the political parties signed the peace accord, pledging to conduct issue-based campaigns and respect the outcome of the election.
The event brought together political party leaders, security agencies, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to reinforce their commitment to peaceful, free, and credible elections in the state.
