INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan Promotes Peace Ahead of Osun Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission is finalizing preparations for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15. Chairman Joash Ojo Amupitan visited the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo on August 1 to secure support from traditional institutions and emphasize that the election must be decided by ballots rather than violence.

To ensure security, the commission has collaborated with the police, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and Service Chiefs for special deployments. Amupitan also inspected an INEC office in the Obokun Local Government Area to assess operational readiness. Current preparations include training Supervisory Presiding Officers and conducting a mock accreditation exercise across the state's three senatorial districts to test technology.

Amupitan warned against the use of misinformation and disinformation to discourage voters and cited a peace accord signed with all political parties on July 30. He stated that the life of any citizen is too valuable to be lost for a governorship position and urged officials to stick to the operational manual.