By John Dike Osogbo
Osun Osogbo worshippers have appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the August 8, 2026 governorship election, citing security and logistical concerns arising from the convergence of the poll with the annual Osun Osogbo Festival.
They made the appeal in a letter dated January 20, 2026, written by the President of the Osun State chapter of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, and addressed to the Chairman of INEC.
According to the association, the timing of the election poses a serious challenge as the grand finale of the 2026 Osun Osogbo Festival is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2026, just one day before the gubernatorial poll.
Reports had it that the internationally acclaimed festival, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural event, attracts thousands of devotees, tourists, and cultural enthusiasts from within Nigeria and across the world every year.
In the letter, Atanda said that holding the election immediately after the festival could strain security arrangements and disrupt movement across Osogbo and adjoining towns, especially given the traditional restrictions usually associated with the festival’s grand finale.
“Osun Osogbo Festival is a sacred spiritual event deeply rooted in our culture and tradition. It has grown into a world tourism festival and remains the largest crowd-pulling cultural festival in Nigeria,” the letter read.
He explained that the 2026 festival has been fixed to hold between July 27 and August 7, 2026, in line with long-standing traditional and spiritual calculations that cannot be altered.
“By custom, the festival is held on a spiritually calculated Friday. The grand finale on August 7 will not end until about 6:00 p.m., after the Arugba returns to the palace. At that point, Osogbo would be filled with adherents and tourists from within and outside the country,” Atanda stated.
The association further said that the influx of visitors could make the enforcement of election-related movement restrictions difficult and expose the state to potential security breaches.
According to the group, political actors may exploit the massive gathering to foment unrest ahead of the election scheduled for the following day.
“The election holding on August 8 may pose serious security risks. Politicians may attempt to take advantage of the crowd to cause mayhem. It is our fundamental right to protect the sacredness of our spiritual festival,” the letter added.
Drawing a historical parallel, the worshippers reminded INEC of the 2015 presidential election, which was shifted from February 14 to March 28 due to security concerns.
They urged the commission to adopt a similar proactive approach by rescheduling the Osun governorship election in the interest of public safety, cultural preservation, and peaceful conduct of the polls.
The group called on INEC to give due consideration to their request, stressing that the festival’s cultural and spiritual significance must not be compromised by electoral activities.
