The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has described the forthcoming Osun governorship election as the country’s most significant off-cycle poll, saying its outcome will serve as a major test ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the remark on Monday during a visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, where he was accompanied by INEC National Commissioners and the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The visit was aimed at briefing the monarch and other traditional rulers on preparations for the election and seeking their support for a peaceful process.
The INEC chairman expressed concern about the security situation in Osun State and appealed to traditional rulers to encourage political actors to avoid violence and ensure a credible election.
He also assured residents that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be fully deployed, stressing that only votes cast by accredited voters would be counted.
According to him, the Commission considers an election successful when it is peaceful, starts and ends on time, and the results are collated transparently.
Amupitan said the Osun election is particularly important because it is the last major off-cycle poll before the country moves into preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He added that no governorship election is worth the loss of innocent lives and expressed confidence that the process would be conducted peacefully on August 15.
In his response, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, said the level of political tension in Osun State had become worrying.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers present at the meeting, the monarch urged politicians to place peace, fairness and justice above personal interests.
He said traditional rulers must remain above partisan politics and should engage both ruling and opposition politicians with honesty and fairness because the state is bigger than any individual or political group.
The Ooni also commended Amupitan’s professional record and appealed to INEC to remain neutral and help reduce tension across the state.
Traditional rulers who attended the meeting included the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Adedotun; Timi of Ede, Oba Adesola Lawal; Akire of Ikire, Oba Tajudeen Olanrewaju; Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode; Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi; Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama Oyelude; and Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin.
