…APC candidate shuns Peace Accord as Adeleke alleges persecution
Ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned all political actors against escalating violence in the state.
INEC issued the warning on Thursday during the signing of the Peace Accord, organised by the National Peace Committee, NPC, in Osogbo, the state capital.
The ceremony, which brought together 14 governorship candidates, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, however witnessed the failure of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Oyebamiji, to attend in person.
INEC’s warning comes amidst allegations by Governor Ademola Adeleke of sustained political persecution and attacks on members of his party over the past three months.
Speaking at the event, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, described the Peace Accord as more than a ceremonial exercise, warning that democracy would be endangered if political actors resorted to violence, intimidation or electoral manipulation.
“It is not a mere administrative ceremony or photo opportunity; it is a moral treaty signed before the citizens of this state and the global community.
“It is not the signatures written today that preserve democracy; it is the character of the leaders who hold the pen. If campaigns are characterised by incitement, private armed squads or subversion, the process is compromised long before the first ballot is cast,” Amupitan said.
The absence of the APC candidate, Oyebamiji, attracted attention at the ceremony, although his running mate, Aderemi Adereti, arrived shortly before the conclusion of the signing.
Adeleke said he attended the ceremony “on a sad note,” claiming he had contemplated boycotting the event because of what he described as politically motivated violence against his administration and supporters.
“I should have boycotted this peace meeting because of the violence unleashed on Osun State in the last few months, on the directive of Gboyega Oyetola. However, my presence is due to my very deep respect for our peace leaders here present,” the governor said.
He alleged that eight members of his party had been killed within the last three months, while more than 20 others sustained injuries in gun attacks, accusing security agencies of failing to prosecute those responsible.
Adeleke also claimed that over 60 members of the Accord political movement remained in police custody without being charged to court, while several others had allegedly been transferred to correctional facilities in Abuja and Nasarawa State.
Appealing to the National Peace Committee, the governor urged it to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to secure the release of those in detention, insisting that respect for the rule of law was essential to peaceful elections.
Responding on behalf of the National Peace Committee, assured the governor that the concerns raised would be communicated to the appropriate security authorities, particularly the police.
He reminded political parties that the peace accord was a solemn commitment rather than a symbolic exercise, urging all contestants to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
Beyond the security concerns, INEC expressed confidence in its operational readiness for the election. Amupitan disclosed that 11 of the 13 scheduled activities had been completed, with only the close of campaigns on August 13 and election day on August 15 outstanding.
He said 2,339,233 eligible voters had been cleared through the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), while 322,822 Permanent Voter Cards representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters had already been collected. Collection of PVCs at local government offices, he added, had been extended to July 31.
The INEC chairman also announced the deployment of 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, including reserve units, and confirmed that a statewide mock accreditation exercise would hold on August 1 across selected local government areas.
He disclosed that INEC had identified several flashpoints, including Atakumosa East and West, Boripe, Ede North and South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade local government areas, where enhanced security would be deployed through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Amupitan assured voters that stolen Permanent Voter Cards from Okuku and Ife Central would not compromise the election, explaining that the cards had been blacklisted and could not be used without biometric authentication on the BVAS.
He further warned that INEC, working with the EFCC, ICPC and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, would arrest and prosecute anyone involved in vote buying or selling.
The ceremony was attended by members of the National Peace Committee, including a representative of former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
