Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke (Accord) and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji have signed a formal peace agreement pledging non-violent conduct, mutual respect, and peaceful participation ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election.
The signing ceremony, held in Osogbo under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), featured explicit warnings from electoral and security authorities that any political actor attempting to disrupt the poll will face immediate arrest and prosecution.
Key Operational Highlights
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Formal Pledge by Top Contenders: Main gubernatorial candidates—led by Governor Adeleke and APC flagbearer Bola Oyebamiji—signed the accord, binding their campaign councils, ward officials, and supporters to eschew provocative rhetoric and violence.
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INEC Red Line on Thuggery: Electoral officials warned that political parties deploying armed thugs, interfering with Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, or engaging in vote buying will face administrative sanctions alongside law enforcement action.
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De-Escalation After Recent Friction: The peace deal follows a week of heightened political friction in Osun State, marked by security raids on political residences and accusations of intimidation between rival parties.
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Neutral Operational Mandate: Police leadership and joint security forces reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining strict neutrality, deploying anti-thuggery squads, and securing all polling units across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OSUN 2026 PEACE PACT & INEC MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Event : Signing of Osun Governorship Election Peace Pact │
│ │
│ • Key Signatories : Gov. Ademola Adeleke (Accord), Bola Oyebamiji (APC)│
│ & candidate representatives. │
│ │
│ • Convening Bodies : Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) │
│ & Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election │
│ Security (ICCES). │
│ │
│ • Poll Date : Saturday, August 15, 2026 │
│ │
│ • Core Mandate : Ban on electoral violence, thuggery, vote buying, │
│ and commitment to accept peaceful outcomes. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
(Sources: INEC Osun State Directorate & Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security)
“Let the People Decide at the Ballot”
Addressing candidates and party executives at the signing, electoral and security leaders urged all stakeholders to prioritize peace and uphold democratic principles throughout the campaign and voting windows:
“The eyes of the nation and the international community are on Osun State. This peace pact is not a mere formality; it is a solemn commitment to the citizens that their lives and votes will be protected. Any individual or group planning to cause chaos, manipulate voters, or unleash thuggery will be treated as an enemy of the state.” — INEC & Election Security Joint Directorate Statement
Security agencies confirmed that special monitoring teams have been deployed across key zones in Osun State to ensure strict compliance with the terms of the peace accord.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
