Candidates contesting the August 15 Osun State governorship election and their political parties on Thursday signed a peace accord aimed at ensuring a peaceful, free and credible election.

The peace accord signing, facilitated by the Bishop Matthew Kukah-led National Peace Committee, took place on Thursday at the Oasis Event Centre in Osogbo.

Governor Ademola Adeleke attended the event in person, while his major opponents were represented.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was represented by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, alongside his running mate, Engr. Kayode Adereti. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate was represented by the party’s chairman, Azeez Adesiji.

Speaking at the event, the chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was represented by former Chief of Defence Staff General Martins Agwai, urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to put peace above politics.

He appealed to all political parties, governorship candidates and their supporters to conduct the remainder of their campaigns peacefully, with restraint, civility and respect for the law.

“We must reject violence, hate speech, misinformation and every action that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. No electoral victory is worth the loss of a single life, and the greatest achievement for everyone is a peaceful election that reflects the freely expressed will of the people,” he said.

After the candidates and party representatives signed the accord, the convener of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Kukah, reminded them that signing the document was only the beginning.

He urged them to honour the commitments they had made.

He expressed confidence that the candidates and their supporters would keep to the agreement throughout the election period.

“We trust that these commitments will guide their words, their actions, and the conduct of their supporters throughout the remainder of the electoral process,” he added.

Kukah also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, the media and civil society organisations to play their part in ensuring a peaceful election.

He urged INEC to remain professional and impartial, while asking security agencies to be fair, vigilant and accountable in carrying out their duties.

The Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), Mr Collins Agbo, has assured political parties and stakeholders that the forthcoming local government election in the state will be free, fair and credible.

Agbo gave the assurance on Thursday during the EBSIEC Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting held in Abakaliki ahead of the August 22, 2026, local government elections.

He called on political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to cooperate with the commission to ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral process.

The EBSIEC chairman commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for providing the commission with the necessary support and independence to carry out its constitutional mandate, expressing confidence that Ebonyi would set a benchmark for credible local government elections in Nigeria.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Logistics and Field Operations, Mr Hyacinth Nwoba, disclosed that all election materials had been procured and would be distributed for use across the state’s 171 electoral wards and 2,947 polling units in the 13 LGAs.

He described logistics as the backbone of every successful election, assuring stakeholders that adequate arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Legal and Security, Barrister Sunday Odunwa, warned against voter intimidation, violence and other electoral offences, stressing that the commission would not tolerate acts capable of undermining the credibility of the election.

He urged political parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully and advised members of the public to promptly report cases of harassment, intimidation or violence to security agencies.

Odunwa further reminded political parties and supporters that wearing clothes bearing party insignia 24 hours before the election is prohibited under the law, warning that violators would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Commissioner for Administration and General Services, Mr Irem Okechukwu, assured stakeholders that EBSIEC officials would remain neutral and uphold the rule of law throughout the electoral process.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Finance and Accounts, Dr Emmanuel Ibiam, said the commission had provided all the financial and logistical resources required for a successful election, urging political parties to cooperate with electoral officials.

On his part, the Commissioner for Planning and Statistics, Mr Nwanja Uchenna, assured stakeholders that election officials would be deployed to all 171 wards and the 2,947 polling units across the state to ensure that no eligible voter was denied the opportunity to vote.

He added that EBSIEC officials would be at polling units from 7:00 a.m. on election day and pledged that the commission would provide timely, accurate and transparent information throughout the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, appealed to EBSIEC to announce election results promptly after voting and collation, expressing confidence that political parties would accept credible outcomes.

Also, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Ebonyi State, Comrade Friday Nwovu, called on the electoral commission to ensure the inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in the council election.

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Thursday challenged the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing both institutions of ‘blurring the line’ between the Nigerian state and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The party said reports that a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, had been engaged by INEC for election logistics, alongside the appearance of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the launch of the pro-Tinubu City Boy Movement, had reinforced fears that institutions expected to stand above partisan politics were drifting into it.

The accusation was contained in a statement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who called on both INEC and the police to explain the developments, insisting that public confidence in the electoral process was at stake.

“There are no longer any discernible boundaries between the Nigerian state and the ruling APC,” Abdullahi said.

The party demanded that INEC clarify the reported engagement of the NURTW faction, arguing that allowing individuals perceived as politically aligned with one of the contestants to transport election personnel and sensitive materials would erode confidence in the credibility of the polls.

It also cited President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration that ‘all is fair in war,’ saying the remark had heightened suspicion surrounding the reported logistics arrangement.

Turning to the police, the ADC questioned the attendance of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the launch of the City Boy Movement.

“The Nigeria Police Force belongs to the Nigerian people, not to any political party,” Abdullahi said, urging the Inspector-General of Police to explain whether the officer’s attendance was officially authorised and whether it was consistent with the political neutrality expected of senior police officers.

The party said it would write the INEC Chairman to demand a formal explanation of the reported logistics arrangement, maintaining that the electoral process must never become a vehicle for political patronage.

It urged the Inspector-General to either discipline the Lagos police commissioner if his attendance at the political event was unauthorised or, if it had official approval, extend the same latitude to senior officers invited to events organised by other political parties.

To stress that demand, the ADC invited the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory to its upcoming political event in Abuja in the interest of fairness and equity.