The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has appealed to traditional rulers in Osun State to use their influence to promote peace and reduce political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Amupitan made the appeal on Tuesday during a meeting with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other traditional rulers in Ile-Ife. Accompanied by the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, the INEC chairman said the visit was to brief the monarchs on the commission’s readiness for the election and seek their support.
He described the governorship poll as a major electoral exercise whose outcome would shape preparations for the 2027 general election, stressing the need for a peaceful process.
“We are here, our royal fathers, to seek your royal blessings and tap into your fatherly wisdom. This vote is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election, we move straight into the general election. Your Royal Majesty, sir, since assuming the office of Chairman of the Commission, I resolved with my Commissioners to rebuild the public trust. And how do we rebuild the trust? It is not just by talking and making noise on the television, but to ensure that whatever election we conduct, we make it credible, fair, free and transparent.
“We are here, our royal fathers, to seek your royal blessings. To tap into your fatherly wisdom and share our preparations with you and the good people of Osun State.
As we approach this election, we recognise that this vote is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election, we move straight into the general election.
“So we look at Osun as a mirror through which we can see the general election that is coming up next year. So it is so important and dear to us. A lot of fears and concerns have been expressed as to the election that is coming up on the 15th of August. As far as we are concerned, an election is successful if it is peaceful, if it starts on time and ends on time and if the result is collated transparently at a good time,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman urged the royal fathers to engage political parties and their supporters, warning that no political ambition should lead to violence.
“We have had concerns in the past few weeks over the security situation in Osun State, and that is why, as the custodian of our people, we want to appeal to our royal fathers to help us appeal to our politicians, the political actors and political parties to ensure that this election is peaceful. Help us tell them that the blood of innocent people is not worth the governorship election. So nobody should be killed, or should be illtreated, or should be harassed.”
He also assured voters that the commission would rely on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System to protect the credibility of the election and ensure that only valid votes are counted.
“BVAS is our game-changer. All those issues of ballot paper stealing won’t affect the poll. If you are not accredited by BVAS, that vote will not be counted. So I am assuring Osun electorates that their votes will count,” he said.
Responding, the Ooni of Ife expressed concern over the growing political tension in the state and called on politicians to put the interest of Osun above personal ambition.
“There is tension in Osun State right now. The political tension is so much, becoming unbearable and really worrisome. We do not want to rock the boat. We want elections to come very freely and very fairly and very justly.
“We have been deliberating for the last five hours. Are we going to fold our hands, we traditional rulers? We should live above politics because Osun State is bigger than all those politicians. Osun State is bigger than us,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
The monarch also urged INEC to conduct the election with fairness and neutrality.
“Please, you are the umpire to douse the tension. You are the umpire to bring it down and make sure everything is right,” he said.
