- Amupitan warns against vote-buying, urges voters to obtain accreditation before casting ballots;
By John Dike, Osogbo
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has sued for peace in view of the disturbing level of political tension in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
He called on polticians to de-escalate their rhetoric and allow the people to freely determine who governs the state.
The monarch also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain upright, impartial and transparent in the conduct of the election, stressing that the electoral body, as the umpire, has a critical role to play in reducing the growing tension and restoring confidence among the competing political interests.
Oba Ogunwusi spoke at his palace in Ile-Ife while receiving a delegation of INEC led by its National Commissioner, Professor Josiah Amupitan, who visited the monarch to pay homage and seek the royal institution’s support and blessings ahead of the Osun governorship election.
The Ooni, who said the traditional institution had gathered at his palace for the engagement, emphasised that the people of Osun State must be allowed to determine their preferred leader through a free, fair and credible electoral process.
He said the political situation in the state had become worrisome and urged both the opposition and the incumbent government to ensure that their supporters did not turn political competition into hostility or violence.
“There is tension in Osun State. We must tell the opposition and the current government. The political tension is taking a worrisome dimension right now in Osun State,” the monarch said.
The Ooni said the traditional institution had a responsibility to speak at a time when political activities were becoming increasingly intense, stressing that the peace and unity of Osun State should remain more important than partisan interests.
He urged INEC to be impartial in the discharge of its responsibilities, saying the commission’s conduct would be crucial to determining whether the August 15 poll would be accepted by the various political camps.
“You are the umpire. You are the one to douse the tension. Please be just in your conduct of the election,” the Ooni told the INEC delegation.
According to him, INEC must ensure that every eligible voter is given a fair opportunity to participate and that the outcome of the election reflects the genuine wishes of the electorate.
He said the traditional rulers would not dictate the choice of the people but would insist that the people be allowed to make that choice without intimidation, manipulation or violence.
“Our voice as the traditional institution is: let the people decide what they want. Please be just in your conduct of the election,” he declared.
The monarch also expressed confidence in the ability of the INEC leadership to deliver a credible election, saying the commission must live up to its responsibility as the electoral umpire.
He commended the leadership of the commission and said the traditional institution was proud of the efforts being made to strengthen the electoral process.
The Ooni’s intervention came against the backdrop of heightened political activities across Osun State, where the incumbent government and opposition parties have intensified campaigns and mobilisation ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
The Ooni urged political gladiators and their supporters to understand that political contests should not destroy relationships or permanently divide the people.
He noted that political interests could change and that politicians who were adversaries during elections could become allies after the polls.
“Politics is about interest. They fight today; tomorrow they are friends,” he said.
The monarch therefore appealed to politicians to avoid actions that could cause permanent damage to the state because of temporary political disagreements.
He said political leaders should remember that they would continue to live together and interact after the election, irrespective of which candidate eventually emerges victorious.
The Ooni said the traditional institution would continue to promote peace and stability across the state and would use its influence to encourage political actors to embrace peaceful competition.
He stressed that the August 15 election should not be allowed to become a source of bloodshed, destruction or division.
The Ooni also used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as developmental projects being undertaken across Osun State.
He said the state had benefited from interventions and projects linked to the Federal Government and urged stakeholders to recognise efforts aimed at improving infrastructure and development.
The monarch said the political process should not blind citizens to development initiatives, stressing the importance of continuity and cooperation between the Federal Government and the state.
He also encouraged the political class to focus on issues that would improve the lives of the people rather than allowing partisan differences to dominate public discourse.
Earlier, the INEC National Commissioner, Professor Josiah Amupitan, said he visited the Ooni’s palace to pay homage to the monarch and seek his royal blessings and support for a peaceful and credible election.
Amupitan commended the Ooni and other traditional rulers for receiving the electoral commission, describing the visit as both a cultural and institutional responsibility.
He said the Ooni occupied a significant position as custodian of Yoruba culture, while Ile-Ife remained the ancestral cradle of the Yoruba people.
“I am paying homage to you today. It is both a cultural and institutional duty,” Amupitan told the monarch.
He said Osun State occupied a special position in Nigeria’s political landscape because of the political consciousness of its people and the importance they attach to leadership and governance.
According to him, the August 15 governorship election is not only significant to Osun State but would also serve as an important test of the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We have come to seek your royal blessings. Osun State holds a special place in Nigeria. The people are politically conscious and they value their leaders.
“The Osun election is an off-cycle election. It is also a mirror of the election that will prepare us for the major election coming next year,” he said.
The commissioner said INEC was committed to conducting an election that would be free, fair, transparent and credible, assuring stakeholders that the commission would deploy technology and other mechanisms to strengthen the integrity of the process.
Amupitan said one of the major objectives of the present leadership of INEC was to rebuild public confidence in the electoral process.
He acknowledged that the commission operates in an increasingly difficult environment characterised by social media misinformation, political distrust and growing public scrutiny of election management.
He said the most effective way to restore confidence in INEC was through the actual conduct of elections that meet acceptable standards of transparency and credibility.
“When I came, I promised to rebuild the trust in INEC,” he said.
According to him, trust could not be restored through promises alone, but through an electoral process in which citizens could confidently believe that their votes would count and that the results would accurately reflect the will of the electorate.
He said INEC would continue to improve its procedures and embrace technology in its effort to strengthen the electoral system.
Amupitan also expressed concern over the security situation in Osun State, urging traditional rulers to intervene by speaking to political actors and their supporters.
He appealed to the royal fathers to use their influence to encourage politicians to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“There has been a lot that has been said and heard about the coming election. We are concerned about the security situation happening in the state.
“We want to appeal to the royal fathers to help appeal to the political gladiators and supporters to sheathe their swords and embrace peace,” he said.
The commissioner warned that political contests were temporary while the consequences of violence could remain with communities for years.
He therefore called on candidates, political parties and supporters to avoid actions that could threaten the peace of the state.
Amupitan said INEC could not successfully conduct a credible election without the cooperation of political parties, traditional institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and voters.
The INEC commissioner appealed to the traditional rulers to remind political actors that the election would eventually end, but the people of Osun State would remain together.
He said politicians should therefore avoid treating elections as a matter of life and death.
According to him, political differences should not be allowed to destroy families, communities and longstanding relationships.
He urged the traditional rulers to continue to preach peace and encourage their subjects to participate in the election without fear.
Amupitan also warned political parties and their supporters against vote-buying, urging voters to reject attempts to influence their decisions through money or other material inducements.
He said vote-buying remained a threat to credible elections because it could undermine the ability of citizens to freely choose their preferred candidates.
The commissioner encouraged eligible voters to come out and exercise their franchise, stressing that citizens had a responsibility to determine the direction of governance through the ballot.
He advised voters to make informed decisions based on the candidates and programmes they believed could best serve the interests of the state rather than allowing temporary financial benefits to dictate their choices.
He also urged political parties and their supporters to respect the rights of voters to make independent decisions.
The INEC National Commissioner further emphasised the importance of voter accreditation, stressing that voters must undergo the prescribed accreditation process before they can cast their ballots.
“If you are not accredited, you cannot vote,” Amupitan stated.
He explained that INEC was deploying its technological infrastructure, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), to polling units across Osun State as part of efforts to ensure that only duly accredited voters participated in the election.
He said the commission was working towards ensuring that the required electoral equipment reached the relevant voting locations before election day.
According to him, technology has become an important part of modern election management, particularly as the world enters a new era dominated by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
He said INEC would continue to adapt to technological developments to strengthen electoral processes and reduce opportunities for malpractice.
Amupitan assured the people of Osun State that the commission would work to ensure that votes cast by citizens were properly captured, collated and announced within the stipulated period.
He said the commission was conscious of the importance of timely result management in preventing unnecessary tension after voting.
The commissioner urged political parties and their supporters to rely on official information from INEC and avoid spreading unverified claims capable of creating confusion or inflaming political tensions.
He said the credibility of the August 15 election would depend on the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
Amupitan: INEC Has Constitutional Responsibility
Amupitan also explained the constitutional mandate of INEC, saying the commission was established to conduct elections into the offices of the President, governors, members of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.
He added that the commission was also responsible for the registration and regulation of political parties in accordance with the law.
The commissioner said his experience since his appointment had exposed him to several electoral assignments across the country.
He said he had participated in elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti, as well as several bye-elections in different states.
He explained that he had intended to visit the traditional institution earlier to seek prayers and blessings but said he believed the royal fathers had continued to pray for the success of the electoral process.
“After my appointment, I have participated in the election in Anambra, Abuja and Ekiti, as well as many bye-elections across the states.
“I was supposed to have come earlier to seek your prayers, but I know that inside of you, Kabiyesi, you have been praying for us,” he said.
Ile-Ife: Cradle of Yoruba Civilisation
Amupitan also praised the cultural and historical importance of Ile-Ife, describing the ancient city as the ancestral cradle of the Yoruba people.
He said the city remained an important tourism and cultural destination that attracted people from different parts of Nigeria and the world.
The commissioner said the position of the Ooni as custodian of Yoruba heritage made the monarch’s support particularly important at a time when peace and unity were needed ahead of the election.
He commended the Ooni for his leadership and urged him to continue using his influence to promote peace, unity and responsible political participation.
The engagement also underscored the growing role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace during the electoral period.
With political campaigns intensifying and competing parties mobilising supporters across the state, Amupitan said traditional rulers were strategically positioned to appeal directly to political actors and their followers.
He said royal fathers could help reduce tension by using their influence to discourage inflammatory statements, violence, intimidation and other activities capable of undermining the electoral process.
The commissioner also urged the media to educate voters about the electoral process while exercising caution in reporting sensitive political issues that could inflame tensions.
He called on political parties to educate their supporters about peaceful participation and respect for electoral laws.
For the Ooni, the central message from the traditional institution was simple: the people of Osun State should be allowed to decide who governs them.
The monarch said traditional rulers would not dictate the choice of candidate to the electorate but would insist on an electoral environment in which citizens could freely express their preference.
He urged INEC to maintain its neutrality and ensure that all political parties and candidates were treated fairly.
The Ooni said the commission’s conduct would determine to a large extent whether the tension surrounding the election would subside or worsen.
He therefore charged INEC to ensure that the August 15 election was transparent and credible, stressing that the electoral body had the responsibility to protect the integrity of the ballot.
He also urged political actors to respect the outcome of a credible election and use lawful channels to challenge any grievances that might arise.
The monarch’s appeal was ultimately for politicians to put the larger interest of Osun State above their immediate partisan ambitions.
He said politicians could disagree during campaigns and elections but should not allow their differences to permanently destroy the bonds that unite the people.
The Ooni’s warning came as political activities continue to intensify ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with the major political parties seeking to consolidate their support across the 30 local government areas of the state.
The monarch maintained that the traditional institution would continue to work for peace and stability and would encourage all political actors to embrace the spirit of democratic competition.
He called for an election in which the people would vote freely, the votes would be counted transparently and the winner would emerge through a process that commands public confidence.
He concluded with a prayer for INEC, its leadership, Osun State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“God bless INEC. God bless Amupitan. God bless Osun State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Ooni said.
