Isaac Samuel
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has expressed concern over the rising political tension in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured Nigerians that the commission would deliver a credible, peaceful and transparent poll.
The monarch, who received the INEC chairman and other top officials of the commission at his palace in Ile-Ife, warned that the political atmosphere in the state had become increasingly tense and urged all stakeholders to place the interest of the people above partisan considerations.
“There is tension in Osun State right now. The tension is so much, political tension. It is what we have been deliberating for the last five hours. It is really, really worrisome,” the Ooni said while addressing the INEC delegation and traditional rulers from across the state.
He stressed that traditional rulers remain non-partisan and are committed to promoting peace, regardless of political affiliations.
According to him, politicians must pursue their ambitions without endangering the lives of the people, insisting that Osun State is bigger than individual political interests.
“Osun State is bigger than all those politicians. The good, the bad and the ugly belong to us. Both politicians from the ruling party and the opposition should be embraced and told the truth. It is important that they focus on the wellbeing of the people and do what is just, fair and right,” he said.
The monarch described the governorship election as a crucial test for Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general election and urged INEC to remain independent in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.
“The ball is in your hand. We want you to do what is right. We want you to do what is just and we want you to do what is fair. Let people come out and vote freely. Let the people decide what they want. Do not let anybody interfere in the process,” he said.
Earlier, Amupitan said the commission was fully prepared to conduct an election that would reflect the wishes of the electorate, adding that rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process remained one of INEC’s top priorities.
He explained that the visit to the Ooni was to formally notify the traditional institution of the forthcoming election and seek the support of royal fathers in ensuring a peaceful exercise.
According to him, Osun remains one of Nigeria’s most politically conscious states, making the governorship election particularly significant because it comes months before the 2027 general election.
“As far as we are concerned, this is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election we move straight into the general election. We look at the Osun election as a mirror through which we can see the general election coming next year,” he said.
The INEC chairman said the commission would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) across the state to guarantee credible accreditation and voting, stressing that only voters accredited through the technology would be allowed to cast their ballots.
He also warned against misinformation, disinformation, vote-buying and electoral violence, appealing to traditional rulers to prevail on political actors to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
“No governorship election is worth the blood of any Nigerian. We appeal to our royal fathers to encourage political actors to see the election as a contest of ideas and not a do-or-die affair,” Amupitan said.
He disclosed that Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters who will vote in 3,763 polling units spread across 332 registration areas in the state’s 30 local government areas.
Amupitan assured residents that INEC would remain impartial and committed to conducting an election that meets democratic standards and reflects the will of the people.
He also announced that the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections across the country are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
