Political parties sign Peace Accord as electoral body intensifies security, logistics ahead of August 15 election
By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured residents of Osun State that the August 15 governorship election will be free, fair, credible and peaceful, declaring that it will not allow fear, violence or intimidation to undermine the democratic will of the electorate.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Thursday in Osogbo during the signing of the Osun State Peace Accord organised by the National Peace Committee. The event brought together leaders of political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful electoral process.
Amupitan warned that individuals involved in vote buying, electoral violence or any attempt to disrupt the election would face the full weight of the law, stressing that the commission remained committed to neutrality, transparency and credible elections.
He disclosed that seven out of the nine scheduled activities in the election timetable had already been successfully completed, while the remaining activities include the conclusion of political campaigns on August 13 and the governorship election on August 15.
According to the INEC chairman, more than 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election. He added that the commission had extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) until July 31 to enable more eligible voters to exercise their civic rights.
Addressing concerns over security, Amupitan explained that the commission had adopted a proactive strategy through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), with intelligence-driven deployment of security personnel to identified flashpoints across the state.
He revealed that about 2,000 polling units had been classified as vulnerable and would receive additional security coverage to safeguard voters, election officials and sensitive election materials.
“We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force,” he declared.
As part of efforts to ensure operational efficiency, the INEC chairman announced that the commission would conduct a statewide mock accreditation exercise on August 1 to test its technology, logistics and readiness ahead of the election.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who represented the Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), described the Peace Accord as more than a ceremonial event, saying it represented a solemn commitment by political actors to peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.
He urged political parties and their supporters to conduct issue-based campaigns, obey the rule of law and accept the outcome of the election in the true spirit of democracy.
According to him, elections are temporary while the unity and peace of society must endure.
“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,” Onaiyekan said.
He also called on INEC and security agencies to remain impartial throughout the electoral process, noting that the credibility of any election depends not only on the conduct of political parties but also on the professionalism of election administrators and security personnel.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasuba assured residents that comprehensive security measures had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful, free, fair and credible governorship election.
Fasuba said security agencies would remain neutral while maintaining law and order before, during and after the poll.
Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, appealed to politicians and their supporters to reject violence, vote buying and inflammatory rhetoric capable of disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
The monarch reminded political actors that alliances often change after elections, while ordinary citizens usually bear the consequences of electoral violence.
“Power belongs to the people. Go out peacefully, vote according to your conscience, and return home peacefully. Do not allow anyone to buy your conscience or lure you into violence,” the Ooni advised.
The event ended with governorship candidates and representatives of participating political parties signing the Peace Accord, committing themselves to peaceful campaigns, issue-based politics and respect for the outcome of the August 15 governorship election.
Following the ceremony, Prof. Amupitan led INEC National Commissioners, directors, technical staff and the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, on an assessment tour of selected local government areas to evaluate the commission’s operational preparedness ahead of the election.
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