INEC has vowed that intimidation, violence and vote buying will not shape the outcome of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
The assurance was given by the electoral commission during the signing of the Osun State Peace Accord in Osogbo on Thursday, an event organised by the National Peace Committee with political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in attendance.
Speaking at the ceremony, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), said the commission had completed seven of the nine activities scheduled for the election, leaving only the end of campaigns on August 13 and the governorship poll on August 15.
He said more than 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate, noting that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards had been extended until July 31 to give more eligible voters the opportunity to collect their cards.
Amupitan said INEC had activated security measures through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), with intelligence-driven deployment to areas identified as potential flashpoints.
He disclosed that about 2,000 polling units had been marked as vulnerable, with extra security personnel assigned 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.
The INEC chairman also announced that a statewide mock accreditation exercise would hold on August 1 to test the commission’s technology and logistics before the election.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who represented the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), described the accord as a solemn pledge rather than a routine ceremony.
He urged political parties and their supporters to campaign peacefully, obey the law and accept the election outcome.
“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, saying credible elections depend on the conduct of election managers and security personnel.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akinyele Fasuba assured residents that security agencies had concluded plans to safeguard the electoral process across the state.
He said security personnel would remain neutral while maintaining law and order before, during and after the governorship election.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, appealed to politicians and their supporters to reject violence, vote buying and inflammatory rhetoric.
“Power belongs to the people. Go out peacefully, vote according to your conscience, and return home peacefully. Do not allow anyone to buy your conscience or lure you into violence,” the monarch said.
The event ended with governorship candidates and representatives of political parties signing the Peace Accord, promising to run issue-based campaigns and respect the election result.
After the ceremony, 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 review preparations for the August 15 governorship election.