As preparations intensify for the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, the Osun Development Association (ODA), through its Leadership and Governance Committee, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, convened the Peace Charter Summit in Osogbo, bringing together key electoral stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful, credible and issue-based elections.

The summit, held at the Aurora Event Centre, GRA, Osogbo, featured the signing of the Osun 2026 Peace Charter and the Governance Accountability Charter by representatives of participating political parties, who pledged to conduct peaceful campaigns, reject electoral violence and vote-buying, and uphold democratic principles before, during and after the election.

 

The event, themed “Speak, Choose, Hold Accountable: Citizens at the Centre of Osun’s Democracy,” attracted representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, members of the media and other critical stakeholders.

In attendance were the Osun State Governor, represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi; the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; the Osun State Commissioner of Police, represented by ACP Ademola Adebayo; the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for INEC in Osun State, Toyin Babalola; the representative of the Osun State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Sotiyo Emmanuel; representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Islamic Council, traditional rulers, and representatives of fourteen registered political parties, including Accord Party, AAC, ADC, AC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP, PP, NNPP, PRP, YPP and ZLP, among others.

Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Chairman of the Osun Development Association, Dr. Segun Aina, OFR, the Chairman of ODA’s Leadership and Governance Committee, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, described the summit as a timely intervention designed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and strengthen democratic governance in the state.

He said the association, as a non-partisan organisation committed to the sustainable development of Osun State, organised the summit to encourage peaceful political participation, issue-based campaigns and active citizen engagement before, during and after the governorship election. He noted that democracy thrives when citizens not only vote but also hold elected leaders accountable for their actions.

Olugbodi stressed that with only a few weeks to the governorship election, all stakeholders including political parties, security agencies, electoral officials, traditional institutions, religious bodies and the electorate, must work together to ensure that the election reflects the genuine will of the people and remains free from violence, intimidation and vote-buying. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election with transparency and professionalism while calling on security agencies to remain neutral and guarantee the safety of voters throughout the electoral process.

He also appealed to political parties and governorship candidates to focus on ideas, competence and integrity rather than violence or inflammatory rhetoric, describing elections as contests of vision and service rather than intimidation.

According to him, the summit was convened not only to facilitate the signing of the Peace Charter, but also to introduce the Governance Accountability Charter, a framework that outlines citizens’ expectations from whoever emerges as governor after the August poll. He said the charter would serve as a tool for monitoring governance performance and ensuring that campaign promises translate into measurable actions after the election.

Olugbodi further urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, the media and young people to become ambassadors of peace, warning youths against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of electoral violence. He encouraged eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), vote according to their conscience and remain actively involved in holding public office holders accountable beyond election day.

Speaking at the summit, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC in Osun State, Toyin Babalola, assured participants that the electoral body had put adequate measures in place to deliver a free, fair and credible governorship election. She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every valid vote counts and that lawful votes cast by the electorate would be protected.

Representatives of security agencies also pledged professionalism and neutrality throughout the electoral process, while religious leaders, traditional rulers and civil society organisations called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to shun violence and conduct their campaigns peacefully in the interest of the state.

The summit also featured keynote presentations and goodwill messages by the Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, and other distinguished speakers, who emphasised the need for peaceful elections, responsible leadership and active citizen participation as essential ingredients for democratic development. Further details of their presentations will be published in subsequent reports.