The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has sought the intervention of traditional rulers in Osun State to de-escalate tension ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
Prof Amupitan, accompanied by the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to officially brief the monarchs about the forthcoming election and seek royal blessings, made the disclosure at the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday.
Describing the Osun poll as an important off-cycle election that will serve as a mirror for the 2027 general elections, Amupitan said the Commission had concerns over the security situation in the state, and appealed to the royal fathers to prevail on political actors to allow a peaceful poll.
“We are here, our royal fathers, to seek your royal blessings and tap into your fatherly wisdom. This vote is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election, we move straight into the general election. Your Royal Majesty, sir, since assuming the office of Chairman of the Commission, I resolved with my Commissioners to rebuild the public trust. And how do we rebuild the trust? It is not just by talking and making noise on the television, but to ensure that whatever election we conduct, we make it credible, fair, free and transparent.
“We are here, our royal fathers, to seek your royal blessings. To tap into your fatherly wisdom and share our preparations with you and the good people of Osun State.
As we approach this election, we recognise that this vote is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election, we move straight into the general election.
“So we look at Osun as a mirror through which we can see the general election that is coming up next year. So it is so important and dear to us. A lot of fears and concerns have been expressed as to the election that is coming up on the 15th of August. As far as we are concerned, an election is successful if it is peaceful, if it starts on time and ends on time and if the result is collated transparently at a good time,” Amupitan said.
He added, “We have had concerns in the past few weeks over the security situation in Osun State, and that is why, as the custodian of our people, we want to appeal to our royal fathers to help us appeal to our politicians, the political actors and political parties to ensure that this election is peaceful. Help us tell them that the blood of innocent people is not worth the governorship election. So nobody should be killed, or should be ill-treated, or should be harassed.”
The INEC boss also assured that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System would be deployed to ensure that every vote counts.
“BVAS is our game-changer. All those issues of ballot paper stealing won’t affect the poll. If you are not accredited by BVAS, that vote will not be counted. So I am assuring Osun electorates that their votes will count,” he said.
In his remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who urged politicians to prioritise peace, implored traditional rulers in the state to embrace politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties, and ensure that they always tell all the political actors the truth.
“There is tension in Osun State right now. The political tension is so much, becoming unbearable and really worrisome. We do not want to rock the boat. We want elections to come very freely and very fairly and very justly.
“We have been deliberating for the last five hours. Are we going to fold our hands, we traditional rulers? We should live above politics because Osun State is bigger than all those politicians. Osun State is bigger than us,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
While commending Amupitan’s track record, the monarch appealed to the Commission to act as an impartial umpire.
“Please, you are the umpire to douse the tension. You are the umpire to bring it down and make sure everything is right,” he said.
Traditional rulers in the meeting include the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Kayode Adedotun; Timi of Ede, Oba Adesola Lawal; Akire of Ikire, Tajudeen Olanrewaju; and Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode.
Others include the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Olabomi; Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude; and Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, among others.
Punch NG
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