By Oluwakemi Kindness
Candidates of the 14 political parties contesting the August 15 Osun governorship election have signed a peace accord, pledging to ensure a peaceful and violence-free poll.
The candidates signed the agreement on Thursday as part of efforts to promote peaceful political competition ahead of the election.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord, signed the document.
Representatives of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam, signed on their behalf.
Speaking at the event, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who delivered the welcome remarks on behalf of the National Peace Committee Chairman and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, said the accord marked another milestone in efforts to promote dialogue and build trust among political actors.
He urged candidates and their supporters to conduct the remaining days of the campaigns with civility and responsibility.
Onaiyekan said democracy would thrive when political competition was guided by peace, restraint and respect for the rule of law.
INEC Warns Against Violence, Vote Buying
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the signing of the accord sent a clear message that democracy could only thrive when peace prevailed.
“Democracy thrives when peace prevails,” Amupitan said.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to comply with the letter and spirit of the agreement.
The INEC chairman warned that anyone who attempts to disrupt the August 15 election or engage in vote buying would face the full weight of the law.
“We will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force. Insecurity is a direct assault on the sanctity of the ballot,” he said.
INEC Deploys Across 3,763 Polling Units
Amupitan said INEC had completed 11 of the 13 activities on its election timetable.
He said the remaining activities were the conclusion of campaigns on August 13 and election day on August 15.
According to him, INEC will deploy personnel across Osun State’s 30 local government areas and Modakeke Area Office, covering 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units.
The commission’s certified register contains 2,339,233 eligible voters following the Automated Biometric Identification System exercise.
Amupitan said 322,822 Permanent Voter Cards, representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters, had been collected.
He added that PVC collection at all local government offices had been extended until Friday, July 31, to allow more eligible voters to collect their cards.
Security Tightened Ahead Of Poll
The INEC chairman expressed concern over reports of violence and threats in some parts of the state.
He said the commission had moved from reactive monitoring to proactive security measures through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Amupitan said intelligence-led security operations would be deployed to polling units and collation centres in collaboration with the police and Armed Forces.
The measures, he said, were aimed at protecting voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the August 15 governorship election.
