The Ooni of Ife and Natural Head of the Oduduwa Race Worldwide, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has condemned the rising political tension in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair and credible poll.
The monarch, who is also the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), made the call on Tuesday evening at the ancient Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife while receiving the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, who led a delegation of the commission on a courtesy visit to seek the support and blessings of the traditional institution ahead of the off-cycle election.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the INEC delegation was received by the Ooni alongside prominent monarchs from the Osun State Council of Obas.
The Ooni urged political stakeholders to embrace peace and allow the electorate to freely determine who governs the state through a transparent and credible electoral process.
Addressing the INEC Chairman, the monarch said the prevailing political atmosphere in Osun had become increasingly worrisome, stressing that traditional rulers, as custodians of peace and unity, could not remain silent while political tensions continued to escalate.
“There is political tension in Osun State and, truth be told, the tension is becoming unbearable for us. As traditional rulers, we must remain above politics because Osun State is bigger than any politician. We occupy the thrones of our forefathers and our responsibility is to speak the truth at all times, irrespective of political affiliations,” the Ooni said.
He said the traditional institution had a responsibility to engage political leaders constructively and remind them that governance should be driven by justice, fairness and the welfare of the people rather than partisan interests.
The Ooni noted that while politicians could change alliances based on personal or political interests, the traditional institution remained permanently committed to protecting the peace, stability and unity of the state.
“Politics is about interests. Those who are opponents today may become allies tomorrow, but the people remain. We do not want political interests to divide our communities or threaten the peace of Osun State. Let the people come out freely to vote and decide who they want to govern them,” he stated.
The monarch called on INEC to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with absolute neutrality, transparency and professionalism, saying the electoral umpire had a crucial role to play in reducing political anxiety across the state.
“You are the umpire. Be very just, upright and transparent in the conduct of this election. We want the election to be free, fair and credible. You have the responsibility to douse the growing tension and inspire confidence among all political stakeholders,” he said.
The Ooni also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and create an enabling environment for INEC to operate independently.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and actions capable of provoking violence, stressing that political competition must not degenerate into hostility.
According to him, no election should be allowed to destroy relationships or permanently divide communities, as politicians and their supporters would continue to coexist after the polls.
“The traditional institution will continue to promote peace across Osun State. We will continue to encourage politicians to embrace peaceful campaigns because elections should never become a source of bloodshed, destruction or division,” the Ooni said.
He further urged citizens to participate peacefully in the electoral process without fear or intimidation, insisting that the wishes of the electorate must ultimately prevail.
Earlier, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the visit to the Ooni’s Palace was both a cultural obligation and an institutional engagement aimed at securing the support of the traditional institution for a peaceful governorship election.
Describing Ile-Ife as the ancestral home of the Yoruba race and the Ooni as a foremost custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, Amupitan said INEC recognised the influential role of traditional rulers in promoting peace and public confidence during elections.
“We have come to pay homage to Your Imperial Majesty and seek your royal blessings. Osun occupies a unique place in Nigeria because its people are politically conscious. This election is significant, not only for Osun State, but also as a major test ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
The INEC Chairman assured the royal fathers that the commission remained committed to delivering a free, fair, transparent and credible governorship election, adding that technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), would be deployed to safeguard the integrity of the process.
Amupitan said rebuilding public confidence in INEC remained a major priority, stressing that such confidence could only be earned through transparent elections that genuinely reflect the will of the people.
He also appealed to traditional rulers to intensify efforts to promote peaceful coexistence by prevailing on political actors and their supporters to reject violence and embrace issue-based campaigns.
The INEC Chairman expressed concern over the security situation in the state and urged political parties to refrain from actions capable of threatening public peace.
He further cautioned against vote-buying and other electoral malpractices, urging eligible voters to reject inducements and exercise their civic responsibility freely.
Amupitan assured residents that adequate electoral materials would be deployed across the state ahead of the election, while urging political parties and members of the public to rely only on official information from INEC and avoid spreading unverified claims capable of heightening political tension.