The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, has appealed for the support of traditional rulers in ensuring a peaceful, credible and violence-free governorship election in Osun State in August.

Prof. Amupitan made the appeal on Tuesday during a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in Ile-Ife.

He expressed concern over the political atmosphere in the state, urging traditional rulers to appeal to politicians and political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns devoid of rancour and violence.

“The blood of Nigerians is not worth the ambition of any politician,” Amupitan said.

Amupitan said the visit was to formally notify the Ooni of the forthcoming governorship election and to seek royal prayers and blessings ahead of what he described as one of Nigeria’s most significant off-cycle elections.

“The visit is to formally announce to you that the Osun governorship election is coming up on Saturday, August 15, 2026,” the INEC chairman said, adding that Osun occupies a special place in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The INEC chairman also called for proper verification of information to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation, warning that false information could fuel unnecessary violence before, during and after the election.

Amupitan said restoring public confidence in the electoral body remained one of his priorities, stressing that the commission was committed to conducting elections that were credible, free, fair and transparent.

“We have decided that one of the ways we can build trust is to ensure that elections must be credible, free, fair and transparent,” he stated.

He explained that INEC, as a creation of the Nigerian Constitution, is responsible for conducting elections into elective offices across Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as registering and deregistering political parties, conducting referendums and maintaining the national voters’ register.

The INEC chairman also announced that the 2027 general elections would commence with the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027.

He noted that earlier off-cycle and by-elections had delayed his visit to Ile-Ife.

Describing the Osun governorship poll as “the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria,” Amupitan said it would serve as a mirror for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

He urged traditional rulers to work towards ensuring that the election was peaceful, commenced on schedule and had a timely declaration of results.

He disclosed that all 12 National Commissioners of INEC, representing the six geopolitical zones, accompanied him on the visit, saying the commission considered it important to pay homage to the Ooni in recognition of Ile-Ife as the ancestral cradle of the Yoruba race.

Responding, the Ooni of Ife said traditional rulers in Osun had remained above partisan politics despite growing political tension in the state.

“The traditional rulers have resolved to tell politicians the truth and encourage them to do what is fair and right because the political tension is becoming unbearable and worrisome,” the monarch said.

The Ooni urged INEC to remain impartial and allow the electorate to freely choose their preferred candidates, while commending President Bola Tinubu for strengthening the commission’s independence.

He appealed to the electoral body to “do what is right, just and fair,” stressing that the interest of traditional rulers was beyond politics and centred on the peace, stability and progress of Osun State.

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has said that supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 would only lead to more hardship, insecurity, unemployment and poverty for Nigerians.

The party made the statement on Tuesday through its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, while criticising the performance of the Tinubu administration.

He urged Nigerians to back what the party described as a credible alternative ahead of the next general election.

According to Yusuf, Nigerians are already facing severe economic hardship and insecurity under the current administration, and another term for President Tinubu would worsen the situation.

“Supporting President Tinubu’s re-election would amount to supporting more suffering, more insecurity, more unemployment, more poverty, more collapsed infrastructure and more hopelessness in our country,” he said.

The APM spokesman alleged that many of those campaigning for the President’s second term were doing so for personal reasons rather than in the country’s interest.

“Those calling for President Tinubu’s re-election despite his record are mostly discredited politicians, including those seeking official cover for corruption charges and other atrocities they committed against Nigerians,” Yusuf alleged.

He also claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was becoming concerned about the growing popularity of the APM ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“The APC and President Tinubu’s supporters know that he cannot win in a free and fair election. That is why they are jittery over the rising popularity of the APM as a rallying opposition platform and our presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde,” he said.

Yusuf further accused the Federal Government of failing to address the country’s security challenges.

According to him, terrorism, kidnapping and violent attacks had continued to increase.

The APM also criticised the administration’s borrowing policy, claiming that Nigeria’s foreign debt had increased significantly and warning that the country’s future was being burdened by rising external loans.

The governorship candidate of the Action Peoples Party, APP, in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Banji Clement Adesuyi, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to ensure transparent logistics arrangements.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Adesuyi urged the electoral commission to introduce strict profiling procedures for buses and drivers assigned to transport election materials and personnel, saying the measure would strengthen the credibility of the poll.

According to him, “Rigorous verification of vehicles and drivers designated for election duties is essential to guarantee a smooth, secure and transparent electoral process across the state.

“The integrity of our electoral process hinges on the trust we can build among the electorate. Proper profiling of buses, drivers, electoral materials and personnel will fortify our commitment to a free and fair election.”

The APP candidate also appealed to INEC to take decisive steps to ensure that the governorship election is conducted without malpractice, intimidation or any form of interference that could undermine the democratic process.

“The people of Osun State deserve an election that is credible, conclusive and reflective of their will. I implore INEC to take all necessary measures to safeguard this democratic process,” he stated.

Adesuyi said his appeal was intended to draw attention to the importance of efficient election logistics, noting that public confidence in the electoral process depended on transparency and accountability.

He also encouraged eligible voters across Osun State to participate actively in the election, urging them to exercise their civic responsibility by casting their votes peacefully on election day.

“Together, we can make history in Osun State by ensuring that our elections are not only fair but also respected by all,” the APP governorship candidate said.

Adesuyi also reaffirmed his commitment to promoting integrity, accountability and progress, maintaining that credible elections remain essential to strengthening democratic governance and reflecting the wishes of the people of Osun State.