Political parties in Osun State have signed a peace accord, reaffirming their commitment to a peaceful, free and credible governorship election on August 15.
The peace accord was facilitated by the Osun Development Association during a Governance and Election Integrity Summit held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
With less than a month to the Osun State governorship election, stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, political parties and civil society organisations, converged on the venue of the Governance and Election Integrity Summit.
The organisers said the initiative is aimed at fostering peace and assuring voters of a safe and conducive environment before, during, and after the election.
According to the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, the integrity of the electoral process is a collective responsibility, urging all stakeholders to place peace, patriotism and the interest of the state above political ambition.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme “Peace Before Progress: Why the 2026 Osun Election is a Referendum on Southwest Nigeria’s Capacity for Peaceful, Development-Driven Democracy”, the keynote speaker stressed that democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear, violence, and intimidation.
The summit climaxed with representatives of the participating political parties signing a peace accord, pledging to conduct their campaigns peacefully and uphold the principles of free, fair, and credible elections.
