With political tension mounting ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to traditional rulers to intensify efforts at promoting peace, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, urged the electoral body to remain impartial and deliver a credible, free and fair election.

The appeal came on Thursday when the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, led National Commissioners, Directors, the Director-General of the Electoral Institute and members of his technical team on a courtesy visit to the Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife as part of the Commission’s stakeholder engagement ahead of the governorship poll.

The delegation, which arrived through Akure Airport, was received by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, alongside her Ondo State counterpart, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, before proceeding to the palace.

Addressing the Ooni and other traditional rulers, Prof. Amupitan described the monarch as a foremost custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, saying the Commission considered it necessary to seek the support and blessings of the traditional institution in ensuring a peaceful electoral process.

He formally reminded stakeholders that the Osun governorship election would hold on August 15, 2026, adding that preparations were also underway for the 2027 General Election, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would take place on February 6, 2027.

According to him, the visit formed part of INEC’s strategy to deepen stakeholder engagement, strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and consolidate Nigeria’s democratic gains.

The INEC Chairman described Osun as a politically vibrant state with a rich democratic culture, expressing confidence that the forthcoming governorship election would serve as a critical test of the Commission’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.

He appealed to traditional rulers to prevail on political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns and avoid violence before, during and after the election.

According to him, no election can be regarded as successful unless it is peaceful and its outcome is transparently collated and declared.

Prof. Amupitan also warned against the spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation capable of inflaming political tensions, urging citizens to rely only on verified information and participate peacefully in the electoral process.

He assured the royal fathers that the Commission would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to guarantee credible voter accreditation and ensure that every valid vote counts.

The INEC Chairman further disclosed that the Commission would conduct a mock accreditation exercise on Saturday, August 1, 2026, to test the efficiency of its election technology ahead of the governorship poll.

Responding, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, who is also the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, commended the INEC leadership for the visit and expressed confidence in the Commission’s capacity to conduct a credible election.

The monarch, however, acknowledged the heightened political atmosphere in the state and urged the electoral umpire to remain neutral, professional and committed to fairness throughout the electoral process.

He stressed that the peace, stability and overall interest of the people of Osun State should remain paramount, urging eligible voters to come out en masse and vote peacefully on election day.

The royal father also assured INEC of the unwavering support of the traditional institution in promoting peaceful coexistence and ensuring that the governorship election is conducted in an atmosphere devoid of violence.

The visit ended with the presentation of a symbolic artwork by the Ooni to the INEC Chairman as a gesture of goodwill and a reaffirmation of the enduring partnership between Nigeria’s traditional institution and the nation’s electoral body.