Adeleke Advocates for Peaceful Elections Amid Rising Tensions
Yinka Kolawole, Osogbo
The Osun Development Association (ODA) hosted the Osun 2026 Democratic Governance, Peace and Electoral Integrity Summit yesterday, a critical initiative aimed at promoting issue-based political discourse in anticipation of the August gubernatorial election. The summit seeks to mitigate rising tensions and foster a culture of peace in the state.
Speaking at the event, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi, emphasized the government’s commitment to preventing violence. He called for peaceful elections, stating that the administration is collaborating closely with security agencies to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair, credible, and devoid of violence.
The governor commended the ODA for organizing the Governance and Electoral Integrity Summit, highlighting its significance in reinforcing democratic principles in the state. The summit took place at the Aurora Event Center in Osogbo, themed “Speak, Choose, and Take Responsibility: Citizens at the Heart of Osun Democracy.”
Convened by the ODA’s Leadership and Governance Committee (LEAD-GOV), the summit serves as a bipartisan response from the diaspora elite and civil community to alarming reports of political violence and misconduct in Osun State. Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, Chairman of ODA’s Government Initiative Committee, remarked on the precarious state of democracy in Osun, asserting the need for a shift in focus towards peaceful, credible, and development-oriented elections.
The gathering aimed to unite various institutional stakeholders under a single framework, bringing together representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), heads of national military security agencies, registered political parties, gubernatorial candidates, and organizations like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Islamic Ummah leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, professional youth and women’s advocacy groups, and independent media.
A key highlight of the summit was the formal announcement and signing of three institutional commitments designed to endure beyond the electoral cycle. The Osun 2026 Peace Charter is a binding public commitment to non-violence and issue-driven campaigns from all political parties and candidates, creating a foundation for future political engagement.
Dr. Segun Aina, Chairman of ODA, emphasized that the involvement of religious leaders, traditional institutions, and independent media will bolster public oversight and ethical governance throughout the political process. He reiterated that the ODA is a non-partisan organization committed to the socio-economic development and democratic sustainability of Osun State.
The Peace Accountability Charter, a comprehensive, crowd-sourced document formulated to articulate the populace’s expectations of the next government, was also discussed. To foster ongoing compliance, Dr. Aina announced that the ODA would collaborate with the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) to establish a dedicated monitoring and evaluation framework. This framework will scrutinize commitments made during the summit over a three-month period following the upcoming gubernatorial election.
The summit culminated in a collective chanting of the Charter of Peace and Responsibility by all participating political parties, showcasing a unified commitment to uphold peace and responsibility in the electoral process, witnessed by stakeholders present.
