Twelve of the 14 political parties contesting the upcoming August 15 Osun State governorship election officially endorsed peace and accountability commitments on Thursday. The All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress were conspicuously absent from the signing ceremony held in Osogbo.
The Peace and Accountability Charters were signed during the Osun 2026 Democratic Governance, Peace and Electoral Integrity Summit. The event was organized by the Osun Development Association to encourage peaceful campaigns and responsible leadership ahead of the governorship election.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord party, was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Industry, Bunmi Jenyo, who signed the documents on his behalf. Representatives of eleven other parties—the Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Young Progressive Party, and Zenith Labour Party—also appended their signatures to the charters. However, neither the candidates of the APC and ADC nor their representatives attended the summit or participated in the signing exercise.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Osun Development Association, Dr. Segun Aina, whose address was delivered by Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, described the two documents as significant commitments aimed at promoting peaceful elections and accountable governance. Aina explained that the Peace Charter requires political parties and candidates to reject violence, focus on issue-based campaigns, respect electoral institutions, protect voters, pursue legal channels for election disputes, and maintain peace after the declaration of results. He noted that every party and candidate signing the charter does so publicly before the people of Osun State.
Aina commended the participating parties, stating that their presence signaled respect for the democratic process and an understanding that elections should be won through ideas rather than intimidation. The association’s chairman also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, specifically the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to ensure a transparent and credible election, while urging security agencies to protect lives and property throughout the electoral period.
In a goodwill message delivered by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peaceful and credible elections. He remarked that no political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen and no office is more valuable than the life of a single individual.
Representatives of the participating political parties also addressed the summit, pledging to comply with electoral laws and contribute to a peaceful and credible poll. Fourteen political parties are expected to field candidates in the August 15 election. Governor Adeleke is contesting for another term on the Accord platform, while Bola Oyebamiji represents the APC and Najeem Salaam stands as the candidate for the ADC. The summit forms part of broader efforts by civil society organizations and election stakeholders to promote peaceful conduct, democratic accountability, and electoral integrity in Osun State.
