Osun 2026: Adeleke, Oyebamiji, Salam, Adebayo, 10 Others Sign Peace Accord

Osun 2026: Adeleke, Oyebamiji, Salam, Adebayo, 10 Others Sign Peace Accord

…Ooni, Onaiyekan preach peaceful poll, declare “Power belongs to the people”

…INEC to deploy EFCC, ICPC, plainclothes financial intelligence officers to polling units

Barely seventeen days to the August 15, 2026 Osun State Gubernatorial Election, the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke, alongside 13 other candidates, have signed the Peace Accord in a bid to ensure a violence-free electoral process.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, was among the signatories, along with Hon. Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress (AAC), and other notable contenders.

All 14 political parties fielding candidates for the governorship seat were represented at the historic event. Candidates absent from the ceremony were duly represented by their party officials.

The APC gubernatorial candidate was represented by his deputy, Engr. Kayode Adereti, alongside other party executives, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam, was also represented by party officials, including the State Chairman.

 A United Front for Peaceful Elections

The peace pact was organized by the National Peace Committee (NPC), in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The signing ceremony was witnessed by an array of prominent figures, including:

• Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah – Convener of the NPC
• Olatunji Disu – Inspector General of Police, represented by AIG Fasuba Olabode, Zone XI
• Prof. Ojo Amupitan – INEC Chairman
• Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi – alongside other traditional rulers

Cardinal Onaiyekan: “Respect the Peace Accord”

In his opening remarks, the former Archbishop of the Catholic Church, Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, charged all stakeholders to take responsibility for delivering a free, fair, and credible election.

“There is a need to embrace a peaceful poll. This election will go. I urge you to respect all the dictates of the Peace Accord you are all signing today.”

He emphasized that the integrity of the electoral process rests on the commitment of all parties involved.

IGP’s Representative: “Police Operatives Already Deployed”

Addressing concerns over security, AIG Fasuba Olabode assured the public that the Nigeria Police Force is fully prepared for election duties.

“Don’t entertain any fear. Police have started entering the state for election duty. Only the recognised security agencies will be allowed for election duties. All things will go well before, during, and after the election.”

He reiterated the police’s commitment to professionalism and neutrality throughout the electoral process.

INEC Chairman: “Zero Tolerance for Vote-Buying”

INEC Chairman, Prof. Ojo Amupitan, commended the NPC for its initiative, noting that the Peace Accord would significantly aid the electoral umpire in delivering a peaceful poll.

He made a landmark disclosure regarding the commission’s strategy to combat electoral fraud:

“We are attacking vote-buying head-on. In direct synergy with the EFCC, ICPC, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, plainclothes financial intelligence officers will saturate polling unit perimeters. Anyone attempting to buy or sell votes—whether through physical cash or digital transfers—will be arrested and prosecuted under the Electoral Act 2026.”

This unprecedented collaboration signals a zero-tolerance approach to financial malfeasance during the election.

Ooni of Ife: “Osun Is Bigger Than All of Us”

In a passionate address, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, admonished residents to eschew violence and resist being used by politicians for electoral fraud.

“Power belongs to the people; power is in the hands of all of us. So I want to appeal to each and every one of us. We do not want violence. The political tension is too much, and you know our political gladiators.”

The monarch delivered a sobering reminder of the transient nature of political alliances:

“I always tell everybody there is no permanent friend among them; we are the ones who will suffer. Later on, they will go and align and leave all of us behind. They are always aligning, agreeing, and disagreeing. But what is critical is that Osun is bigger than all of us.”

What This Means for the August 15 Election

With the Peace Accord now signed and security agencies on high alert, all eyes are on Osun State as it prepares for what promises to be a closely contested gubernatorial election. The collaborative efforts of the NPC, INEC, and security agencies signal a determined push for electoral integrity.

As the clock ticks toward polling day, the message from all stakeholders is clear: peace first, Osun first.