Jul 31, 2026

Ballot Not Bullet: INEC Vows Peaceful Osun Poll

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in politics

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Osogbo, Osun State - July 31, 2026 - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ramped up its readiness for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, with Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) delivering a firm message: “The ballot, not the bullet, will decide” who becomes the next governor.

Amupitan made the declaration during a strategic visit to the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, Larooye II, on Friday.

The engagement forms part of a broader statewide readiness assessment aimed at securing traditional institutions’ support for a peaceful and credible poll.

Traditional Rulers Back Peace Call

Speaking on behalf of the palace, Hon. Justice Kayode Adebiyigbe praised INEC’s efforts to create a level playing field for all candidates.

He appealed to residents to prioritise peace despite the ongoing Osun-Osogbo Festival and pledged continued royal prayers and support for a widely accepted outcome.

Amupitan described the courtesy call as an institutional duty to brief traditional rulers and mobilize citizens for orderly participation.

“The election will only be successful if it is peaceful, voting starts and ends on time, and results are announced promptly,” he emphasised.

He revealed that additional security personnel would be deployed to deter violence and urged traditional rulers to use their moral authority to restrain political actors and their supporters.

Technology Test and Officials’ Training

The chairman disclosed that a mock accreditation exercise would soon be held in selected polling units across Osun’s three senatorial districts.

The drill aims to test the commission’s technology and operational systems ahead of election day.

Amupitan also inspected the ongoing training of Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), charging them to strictly follow the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines, and operational manuals.

He stressed confidentiality in handling sensitive materials and warned against delays or diversion of election items.

“This is a national assignment and a call to duty. Do not allow politicians to influence your conduct. Stick to the rules and master the operational manual,” he told the officials.

Logistics and Public Assurance

Later, Amupitan visited the INEC office in Obokun Local Government Area to assess preparedness before meeting leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on election-day logistics.

He cautioned residents against misinformation and disinformation designed to discourage voter turnout, assuring that adequate measures are in place to protect election officials, materials and voters.

The Osun poll is widely viewed as a critical test of INEC’s capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

With political temperatures rising and the cultural calendar overlapping the campaign period, the commission’s outreach to traditional institutions signals a deliberate effort to build consensus for a violence-free process.

As Amupitan put it plainly: “Ballot boxes, not bullets, will determine the future of Osun State.”