Osun Decides: INEC Vows to Prevent Fear, Force From Influencing Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured residents of Osun State that the August 15 governorship election will be peaceful, transparent, free and credible, declaring that no form of intimidation, violence or electoral malpractice will be allowed to undermine the democratic process.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance in Osogbo during the signing of the Osun State Peace Accord by political parties and candidates participating in the election.

The event, organised by the National Peace Committee, brought together political leaders, candidates, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, who committed to ensuring peaceful campaigns and a credible election.

Amupitan disclosed that INEC had completed seven out of the nine major activities scheduled ahead of the election. He noted that the remaining key stages were the conclusion of campaigns on August 13 and the conduct of the governorship poll on August 15.

He said over 2.3 million registered voters were expected to participate in the election, adding that the commission had extended the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to July 31 to give more eligible voters the opportunity to take part.

Addressing security concerns, the INEC chairman said the commission, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), had developed a security strategy involving intelligence-based deployment of personnel to areas identified as potential flashpoints.

According to him, about 2,000 polling units had been classified as vulnerable, with additional security measures put in place to safeguard voters, election officials and sensitive materials.

Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to neutrality and transparency, Amupitan said the commission would not allow the people’s democratic choice to be defeated by fear or force.

He also announced that a statewide mock accreditation exercise would be conducted on August 1 to test the commission’s technology and logistics ahead of the election.

Speaking on behalf of the National Peace Committee Chairman and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), Cardinal John Onaiyekan described the Peace Accord as a serious commitment by political actors to peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.

Onaiyekan urged political parties and their supporters to run issue-based campaigns, respect the rule of law and accept the outcome of the election in the interest of democracy. He also called on INEC and security agencies to remain impartial, stressing that credible elections require professionalism from all stakeholders.

Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasuba assured residents that adequate security arrangements had been made to guarantee a peaceful and orderly election.

He pledged that security agencies would remain neutral while ensuring the maintenance of law and order throughout the electoral period.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, also appealed to politicians and voters to reject violence, vote-buying and inflammatory statements during the election period.

The monarch advised citizens to vote peacefully according to their conscience, warning that political alliances often change after elections while ordinary people bear the consequences of electoral violence.

The ceremony ended with candidates and representatives of political parties signing the Peace Accord, pledging to conduct peaceful campaigns and respect the outcome of the August 15 governorship election.

Following the event, 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 readiness for the election.