INEC Assures Credible Osun Governorship Poll, Warns Against Vote Buying, Violence
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured residents of Osun State that the August 15 governorship election will be free, fair and credible, warning that anyone involved in vote buying, electoral violence or any attempt to undermine the electoral process will face the full weight of the law.
The assurance was given on Thursday during the signing of the Osun State Peace Accord in Osogbo, an event organised by the National Peace Committee and attended by political party leaders, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders committed to ensuring peaceful elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), said the commission had successfully completed seven of the nine scheduled electoral activities, with the remaining milestones being the end of campaigns on August 13 and the governorship election on August 15.
He disclosed that more than 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election, adding that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been extended until July 31 to enable more eligible voters to collect their cards.
Addressing security concerns, Amupitan said INEC, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), had adopted intelligence-led security measures to safeguard the electoral process.
According to him, about 2,000 polling units have been identified as vulnerable, with additional security personnel to be deployed to protect voters, election officials and electoral materials.
“We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force,” Amupitan said, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to neutrality, transparency and credible elections.
He also announced that INEC would conduct a statewide mock accreditation exercise on August 1 to test its technology and logistics ahead of the poll.
Representing the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), Cardinal John Onaiyekan described the Peace Accord as a solemn commitment rather than a mere ceremonial exercise.
He urged political parties and their supporters to conduct issue-based campaigns, respect the rule of law and accept the outcome of the election peacefully.
“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, stressing that credible elections depend on the professionalism and neutrality of election administrators and security personnel.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Mr. Akinyele Fasuba assured residents that comprehensive security arrangements had been put in place to ensure a peaceful, free and credible election across the state.
He pledged that security agencies would remain neutral while maintaining law and order before, during and after the election.
Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, appealed to politicians and their supporters to reject violence, vote buying and inflammatory rhetoric.
The monarch urged voters to exercise their franchise peacefully and resist attempts to influence their choices through inducement or intimidation.
The ceremony concluded with governorship candidates and representatives of participating political parties signing the Peace Accord, pledging to conduct peaceful, issue-based campaigns and respect the outcome of the election.
Following the event, 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 readiness ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
