The Kukah Centre, a non-governmental organisation, on Wednesday convened a pre-election bilateral consultation with key electoral stakeholders ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
The engagement, organised in collaboration with the National Peace Committee (NPC), was aimed at strengthening dialogue, building consensus and fostering a shared commitment among stakeholders towards delivering a peaceful, credible and inclusive governorship election.
Speaking at the consultation in Osogbo, the National Peace Committee Project Manager, Mrs Asabe Ndahi, described the Peace Accord as a collective commitment by political actors and other stakeholders to place peace above partisan interests while upholding democratic values throughout the electoral process.
She explained that the consultation was designed not only to prepare stakeholders for the Peace Accord signing scheduled for July 30, but also to provide a platform for identifying emerging electoral risks, improving institutional coordination and promoting joint efforts to prevent election-related violence.
Ndahi called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and community influencers to use their platforms to consistently advocate peaceful elections, non-violence and respect for democratic principles.
She also urged stakeholders to facilitate dialogue among political parties, youth groups and other interest groups to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes before they degenerate into violence.
According to her, stronger collaboration among security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and community-based early warning networks is crucial for promptly identifying and responding to threats to the electoral process.
“The need for stronger collaboration among security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and community-based early warning networks to promptly identify and report potential threats to the electoral process is paramount.
“Findings from the Political and Security Context Analysis identified 18 high-risk local government areas and 12 medium-risk areas across the state, requiring sustained stakeholder engagement and proactive conflict prevention,” she said.
Ndahi identified organised political violence, institutional tensions, electoral offences, voter inducement and the spread of misinformation as key threats capable of undermining the credibility of the election if left unchecked.
She stressed that sustained cooperation among political parties, security agencies, electoral institutions, the media and civil society organisations would be critical to ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
The NPC project manager further appealed to political parties, their supporters and the electorate to reject violence, respect democratic values and ensure that political competition remained peaceful throughout the electioneering period.
The bilateral consultation forms part of the National Peace Committee’s broader peacebuilding initiatives ahead of the formal signing of the Peace Accord for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
The meeting attracted traditional rulers, traditional worshippers, religious leaders, representatives of civil society organisations, media practitioners and other key stakeholders across the state.
