Political parties in Osun State have signed a peace accord ahead of the August 15th governorship election, pledging to ensure a peaceful, free and credible electoral process. The commitment comes as the state prepares for a closely watched poll, with the parties formally putting their names to an agreement aimed at keeping the contest free of the violence that has marred past elections in parts of the country.
The accord was signed at an election integrity summit held in the Osun State capital. With less than a month to go before the governorship election, major stakeholders gathered to discuss how to prevent violence and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process, using the meeting to set out shared expectations for how the campaign and the vote itself should be conducted.
Present at the summit were officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, political parties and civil society organisations. The broad turnout brought together the main actors who will shape the conduct of the election, from those organising and securing the vote to those competing in it and those monitoring it on behalf of the public.
A central aim of the gathering was to promote political tolerance and to reassure voters that they can exercise their civic responsibility without fear before, during and after the election. Organisers stressed that residents should feel safe going to the polls, with security bodies among those pledging that the exercise would be devoid of violence and that voters would be protected throughout the process.
The Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner reminded all stakeholders that peaceful elections require everyone's cooperation. He urged political parties, candidates, supporters and security agencies to put the interest of the state above politics, framing a calm and orderly vote as a shared responsibility rather than the duty of any single institution.
The commissioner also stressed that an election is a process rather than a one day affair, noting that its success begins long before polling day and continues after the results are declared. On that basis he urged all those involved to commit themselves to peace before, during and after the election, and to reject inflammatory language, violence of any sort and any acts capable of creating unnecessary tension.
The keynote speaker at the summit argued that sustainable development can only happen where elections are peaceful, telling participants that peace must be secured first before development becomes possible. That message tied the conduct of the Osun vote to the wider goal of stability and progress in the state, reinforcing the summit's call for all sides to honour the peace accord they had just signed.