INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan
By John Dike, Osogbo
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has appealed to traditional rulers in Osun State, particularly the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanikpekun, to use their influence to promote peace before, during and after the August 15 governorship election.
He made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo at the monarch’s palace as part of his engagement with stakeholders ahead of the off-cycle governorship election.
Amupitam said the commission was determined to conduct a peaceful, credible and transparent election, stressing that the success of the exercise would not be measured only by the announcement of results but also by the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the process.
According to him, INEC was not only preparing for the Osun governorship election but also making arrangements for the forthcoming nationwide general elections.
“We are here to pay you respect as tradition demands and to intimate you about the August 15 governorship off-cycle election,” he said.
The INEC Chairman said the commission was particularly concerned about the rising political tension in the state, warning that no political contest was worth the shedding of blood.
He urged traditional rulers to deploy their influence to calm political actors and their followers, stressing that peace remained a collective responsibility.
“We want the election to be peaceful. An election is successful if it is peaceful and the management of the result is transparent,” Amupitan said.
He added: “We don’t want violence. No blood should be shed.”
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Amupitan appealed to the Ataoja and other traditional rulers to invite the major political actors in the state and impress upon them the need to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process..
He said traditional rulers should also work with high chiefs and community leaders to educate their subjects on the need to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
The INEC Chairman noted that Osun State remained strategically important to Nigeria’s democratic development, adding that whatever happened during the election could have wider implications for the country.
He disclosed that INEC had extended the period for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable more eligible voters to participate in the election.
Amupitan also disclosed that selected polling units would be used to test the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the election.
He said the exercise would allow voters and other stakeholders to see that the electoral technology was functioning effectively, adding that INEC was committed to conducting an inclusive election.
The INEC Chairman cautioned political parties, their supporters and other stakeholders against spreading misinformation, noting that false information could discourage citizens from participating in the electoral process.
He said the commission had also mapped out security measures to ensure adequate deployment of security personnel to strategic locations to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the election.
Amupitan further appealed to the traditional institution to help address the rising tension in the state and encourage political leaders to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation.
He stressed that the role of traditional rulers was crucial in maintaining peace at the grassroots, particularly because of their close relationship with communities and their subjects.
The INEC Chairman said the commission was determined to ensure that eligible voters were given the opportunity to participate freely in the election without intimidation, while also assuring stakeholders that the commission would continue to engage political parties, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the Ataoja, the Asiwaju of Osogbo land, Hon. Justice Moshood Aderibigbe, welcomed the INEC Chairman and his delegation to the palace.
Aderibigbe, who conveyed the monarch’s goodwill, prayed that God would guide Amupitan and the commission in conducting a peaceful and credible election in the state.
The August 15 governorship election will be closely watched as political parties intensify their campaigns and mobilisation across the 30 local government areas of the state.
