ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party in Osun State on Wednesday boycotted a strategic stakeholders’ peace meeting convened by the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Mr. Ibrahim Gotan, as concerns continue to mount over rising political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The meeting was convened in response to a series of violent incidents and killings that have heightened political tension across the state.

Among the recent incidents was the killing of a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, in Ilobu last week.

In another disturbing development, a resident was reportedly shot dead in Esa-Oke, further raising concerns over the deteriorating security situation.

Despite the absence of the APC and Accord Party, representatives of about 11 political parties attended the meeting. Also present were representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), civil society organisations, traditional institutions, heads of security agencies and other critical stakeholders.

A representative of the Ataoja of Osogbo was also in attendance as participants deliberated on the growing security challenges arising from political violence and the need to ensure peaceful campaigns ahead of the governorship election.

During the interactive session, several stakeholders expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the inability of security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for recent killings and attacks in parts of the state.

Some participants argued that while security agencies had continued to issue assurances, many perpetrators of political violence had yet to be brought to justice, a situation they said was fuelling fear and encouraging further attacks.

They called for more proactive intelligence gathering, prompt arrests and diligent prosecution of suspects in order to restore public confidence and deter criminal elements from carrying out further violence.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Gotan, assured residents that the command was doing everything within its capacity to curb political violence and maintain law and order across the state.

He urged political leaders to caution their supporters and promote peaceful coexistence, stressing that elections should never be viewed as warfare.

According to him, political differences must not be allowed to degenerate into violence, intimidation and bloodshed.

Gotan warned that the police would deal decisively with anyone found disturbing public peace or engaging in acts capable of threatening the security of lives and property.

He disclosed that several suspects connected with recent disturbances had been arrested and charged in court, while security operatives had recovered a number of rifles and other dangerous weapons from suspected troublemakers.

The police commissioner reiterated the commitment of the command to ensuring a peaceful electoral process and called on all stakeholders to work together to prevent further violence in the state.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject violence and embrace peaceful participation ahead of the election.

Delivering a goodwill message at the meeting, Babalola described the gathering as timely and necessary in view of recent incidents of violence and killings across the state.

She commended the Osun State Police Command for organising the peace meeting, noting that it underscored the importance of collaboration, dialogue and continuous engagement among stakeholders in the electoral process.

According to her, such engagements provide opportunities to address concerns, build trust and collectively develop measures capable of guaranteeing a peaceful electoral environment.

“The recent incidents of violence, which unfortunately resulted in the loss of lives, are deeply concerning and have created an atmosphere of apprehension among citizens and stakeholders,” she said.

The REC stressed that elections should not be seen as warfare but as a democratic process through which citizens freely choose their leaders.

“Elections are not a war. They should be viewed as a contest of ideas, visions and programmes for the development of our state rather than an avenue for violence, intimidation or hostility,” Babalola stated.

She reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent governorship election, emphasising that the commission remains focused on delivering an electoral process that reflects the wishes of the people.

Babalola, however, noted that the success of any election is a collective responsibility and cannot be achieved by INEC alone.

According to her, political parties, candidates, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, the media and the electorate all have crucial roles to play in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.

She urged political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns, sportsmanship and strict adherence to the rule of law while rejecting hate speech, incitement, misinformation and all forms of conduct capable of threatening peace and security.

The REC warned that violence has no place in a democratic society and that any attempt to disrupt the electoral process could undermine democracy and negatively affect the lives and livelihoods of the people.

She also commended security agencies operating under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for their continued cooperation and professionalism in preparing for the election.

Babalola specifically acknowledged the role of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Gotan, who serves as Co-Chairman of ICCES in the state, for fostering collaboration among security agencies and electoral stakeholders.

Expressing confidence in the preparedness of stakeholders, she said peace would prevail before, during and after the governorship election through professionalism, commitment and cooperation.

The INEC boss urged participants to renew their commitment to peaceful coexistence and democratic values.

“Let us choose dialogue over confrontation, tolerance over hostility and unity over division. The responsibility of ensuring a peaceful election belongs to all of us,” she said.

She concluded by appreciating the Osun State Police Command for organising the engagement and expressed optimism that the forthcoming governorship election would be peaceful, credible and acceptable to all stakeholders.

The meeting ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to a peaceful, credible and violence-free governorship election in Osun State on August 15, 2026, while urging security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest and prosecute those behind recent acts of violence across the state.