The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has appealed to traditional rulers in Osun State to play a part in peaceful, credible and violence-free governorship election on 15 August 2026.
Amupitan made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, in Ile-Ife on Tuesday, where he led the Commission’s senior management team, National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to seek the support and blessings of the traditional institution ahead of the election.
Addressing the Ooni and an assembly of traditional rulers from across Osun State, the INEC Chairman described Ile-Ife as the ancestral cradle of the Yoruba people and a symbol of peace, unity and cultural heritage, saying it was only fitting that the Commission began its official engagement in the state from the palace.
He formally announced that the Osun governorship election would hold on August 15, 2026, while the 2027 general election would commence with the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027, followed by governorship and State Assembly elections on February 6, 2027.
Amupitan explained that since assuming office less than a year ago, the Commission had conducted several major elections, including the Anambra governorship election, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council election, the Ekiti governorship poll and numerous by-elections across 11 states, leaving little opportunity for the courtesy visit he had long intended to pay the monarch.
The INEC Chairman said rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process remained one of the Commission’s foremost priorities, noting that the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence had made misinformation and disinformation a major threat to credible elections.
He warned that false information, manipulated videos and fabricated election-related content could incite panic and violence if not checked, urging citizens to verify information from credible sources and resist attempts to undermine the electoral process through fake news.
Amupitan said the election would serve as a practical test for preparations ahead of the 2027 general election.
He assured residents that INEC would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure transparent voter accreditation and safeguard the integrity of the process.
The INEC Chairman also appealed to political parties, candidates and supporters to shun violence, vote-buying and other electoral offences, stressing that no political office was worth the loss of human life.
He urged traditional rulers to use their influence to preach peace and encourage eligible voters to participate freely in the election.
Amupitan disclosed that Osun State has 2,339,233 registered voters spread across 3,763 polling units, 332 registration areas and the state’s 30 local government areas. He assured the people that every valid vote would count.
In his response, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, commended Prof. Amupitan for what he described as his competence and commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system, expressing confidence in his ability to conduct credible elections.
The monarch, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in Osun State, acknowledged rising political tension ahead of the governorship election, describing the situation as worrisome. He urged INEC to remain impartial and ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process capable of calming public anxiety.
The Ooni appealed to politicians to place the interest of Osun State above partisan considerations, noting that while political alliances may change, the people bear the consequences of electoral violence and instability. He urged all stakeholders to allow voters to freely determine their leaders at the ballot box.
The traditional ruler also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for preserving the independence of the electoral commission and expressed optimism that credible elections would further strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.