Professor Joash Amupitan, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has characterized the upcoming Osun election as the most significant off-cycle poll in Nigeria. Speaking at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Amupitan noted that the results will serve as a vital indicator for the 2027 general elections.
Accompanied by key INEC officials, including the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola, Amupitan requested royal support to encourage peace among political participants. He emphasized that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) remains central to the commission’s strategy, ensuring that only verified voters contribute to the final count and rendering ballot theft ineffective.
The INEC chairman stressed that a successful election requires punctuality, transparency, and, most importantly, an absence of violence. He urged stakeholders to remember that no political office is worth the loss of human life.
In response, the Ooni of Ife expressed significant concern regarding the rising political tension across the state. Addressing a gathering of traditional rulers, including the Orangun of Ila and the Timi of Ede, the monarch urged politicians to prioritize state stability over personal ambition. He encouraged his fellow traditional leaders to remain non-partisan and to hold all candidates to high standards of fairness. The Ooni specifically called upon INEC to maintain strict impartiality to effectively manage the current climate and ensure a credible outcome for the August 15 election.
