The Imole Campaign Council, TICC, has commenced the final stage of documenting victims of election-related violence recorded before, during and immediately after the Osun State Governorship Election.

The council, in a statement issued in Osogbo on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, extended its sympathies to individuals and families affected by violence during the electoral period.

It said the affected persons included those who suffered loss of life, injuries, assaults, destruction of property, arrests and other forms of violence connected with the election.

Olajengbesi said the documentation exercise was being conducted across the state and urged members of the public who were yet to submit details of affected persons to do so before the deadline.

He stressed that the exercise was not restricted to supporters or members of the campaign council but was intended to cover victims irrespective of their political affiliation.

“This exercise is not party-based. It covers every victim, irrespective of political affiliation, party membership or voting preference,” Olajengbesi said.

According to him, “anyone who lost a loved one, sustained injuries or suffered property damage deserved sympathy, support, justice and appropriate compensation regardless of political persuasion.”

The council requested that reports submitted should contain the victim’s name, local government, ward and community, phone number or next-of-kin details, nature of the incident, date and location, and a brief account of what happened.

It also asked members of the public to provide available evidence, including photographs, videos, medical or police reports and witness details, as well as information on the victim’s current condition or status.

The council said the purpose of the documentation was to establish a credible basis for pursuing justice, accountability, support and appropriate compensation for victims and affected families.

“All outstanding reports and supporting evidence should be forwarded by text message or WhatsApp to +234 703 743 9142 on or before Friday, August 21, 2026. Osun comes first,” the statement added.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, presidential candidates and national chairmen of major political parties on Tuesday signed the first National Peace Accord in Abuja.

The signing ceremony, organised by the National Peace Committee, was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, with representatives of political parties, electoral officials, security agencies and diplomats in attendance.

President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who signed the accord alongside the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, were among those who signed the agreement in person.

Other political parties represented at the ceremony included the Labour Party, Democratic Leadership Alliance, National Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, Social Democratic Party, Youth Party, Young Progressives Party and Zenith Labour Party, among others.

All party leaders and presidential candidates were seen approaching the signing table and appending their signatures to the accord.

The ceremony further witnessed the formal signing of the accord by National Assembly and governorship candidates, political party chairmen, presidential candidates, the INEC Chairman and the Inspector-General of Police.

The National Peace Accord is aimed at promoting peaceful conduct, responsible political engagement and credible democratic competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, has disclosed that former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Jega gave Nigeria its best election since the disputed June 12, 1993, poll.

Shehu made the remark while commending INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, over the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

In a statement he signed, the former presidential spokesman wondered why Amupitan has been silent despite INEC’s success in the just-concluded governorship election.

In a statement he tagged, “Where is Professor Amupitan?”, Shehu said: “I don’t know him, and we never met. I have no reason to wish to meet him, either. When they nominated him as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the nation received the shocking disclosure of his 2020 legal brief to the international community in which he claimed that the violence in the country was a Muslim pogrom against Christians.

“The violence affected and still affects followers of all religions and speakers of every language.

“For this reason, I, among many others, felt bad about the assertion he made and assumed that he was not a good choice for that office. This country’s elections had incrementally got better with each new leadership.

“Professor Jega gave the nation its best election since the disputed June 12, 1993, poll that produced Chief MKO Abiola, now recognised as a duly elected president who did not, however, take office.

“Professor Mahmood Yakubu did the impossible by rallying civil society, CSOs, and local and foreign observers to approve all his elections.

“Not one election under him was ever rejected by any serious observer or CSO. Now, look at what has just happened in Osun State. Under Amupitan’s leadership, the country has attained a transparent electoral process.

“Everyone – civil society, the EU, local and foreign observers – are commending this standout performance, praising the exceptional skill and determination to improve the process as manifested by INEC’s seamless uploading of the governorship election results to its IReV.

“With all the loud acclaim that followed, however, I have been asking myself, where is the captain of the ship, Professor Amupitan?

“He hasn’t picked up the microphone, 48 hours hence, or appeared before the TV cameras to proudly show off the success. Where is he?

“We are a country of wilful behaviour, chest-beating public officials who are proudly and aggressively proclaiming success without achieving half of what we are talking about here. Where is he?

“We are not used to seeing this kind of humility, patience, and restraint. Isn’t it fair that the man should come out of his shell and dance to the drums in celebration?”