INEC Seeks Traditional Rulers' Help for Peaceful Osun Poll

On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along with Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola, met with traditional rulers in Osun State, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The purpose of the meeting was to seek the monarchs' intervention in deescalating tensions ahead of the governorship election. Amupitan described the Osun poll as a significant off-cycle election that would reflect the upcoming 2027 general elections.

He expressed concerns regarding the security situation in the state and urged the royal fathers to encourage political actors to ensure a peaceful election. Amupitan assured that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be utilized to guarantee that every vote counts, stating that votes not accredited by BVAS would not be counted.

He emphasized the need for a credible, fair, and transparent election process.