The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Tuesday raised concerns over the rising political tension in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, warning that the situation had become “unbearable” and urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible poll.

The monarch spoke at his palace in Ile-Ife while receiving the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, who led National Commissioners, members of the commission’s senior management and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) on a courtesy visit to seek the support and blessings of the traditional institution ahead of the election.

Addressing the INEC delegation in the presence of traditional rulers from across the state, the Ooni said the political atmosphere in Osun had become increasingly tense, disclosing that the monarchs had spent several hours deliberating on the situation before the commission’s arrival.

“There is tension in Osun State right now. The tension is so much, political tension. It is what we have been deliberating for the last five hours. It is really, really worrisome,” he said.

The monarch noted that traditional rulers occupy a non-partisan position and have a responsibility to promote peace and stability regardless of political differences.

He said although politicians were free to pursue their ambitions, they must not do so at the expense of the lives and wellbeing of the people.

“Osun State is bigger than all those politicians. The good, the bad and the ugly belong to us. Both politicians from the ruling party and the opposition should be embraced and told the truth. It is important that they focus on the wellbeing of the people and do what is just, fair and right,” he said.

The Ooni described the forthcoming governorship election as a critical test for Nigeria’s democracy, noting that it would set the tone for the 2027 general election.
He therefore urged INEC to remain independent and impartial in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility.

“The ball is in your hand. We want you to do what is right. We want you to do what is just and we want you to do what is fair. Let people come out and vote freely. Let the people decide what they want. Do not let anybody interfere in the process,” he said.

The monarch expressed confidence in the leadership of the electoral commission, saying all eyes were on INEC to deliver a credible exercise that would strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Earlier, Amupitan said the visit was to formally notify the traditional institution that the Osun governorship election would hold on August 15 and to solicit the support of traditional rulers in ensuring a peaceful process.

He described Osun as one of Nigeria’s most politically conscious states, recalling that the state had witnessed several keenly contested elections over the years.

According to him, the commission considers the governorship poll the country’s most significant off-cycle election because it comes just months before the 2027 general election.

“As far as we are concerned, this is the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria because after this election we move straight into the general election. We look at the Osun election as a mirror through which we can see the general election coming next year,” he said.

The INEC chairman said the commission had resolved to rebuild public confidence in the electoral process by ensuring that every election it conducts is credible, transparent and peaceful.

He said while misinformation and disinformation, especially on social media, posed growing threats to elections, the commission was determined to ensure that false narratives did not undermine the integrity of the process.

He appealed to traditional rulers to use their influence to caution politicians against violence, hate speech and actions capable of causing unrest.

“No governorship election is worth the blood of any Nigerian. We appeal to our royal fathers to encourage political actors to see the election as a contest of ideas and not a do-or-die affair,” Amupitan said.

He also warned against vote-buying and other electoral offences, urging eligible voters not to allow themselves to be manipulated.

Providing details of the election, the INEC chairman disclosed that Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters, who will vote across 3,763 polling units located in 332 registration areas in the state’s 30 local government areas.

He assured voters that the commission would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation, stressing that only accredited voters would be allowed to vote and that votes not backed by BVAS accreditation would not count.

Amupitan announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the rest of the country would take place on February 6, 2027.

He called on the people of Osun to come out peacefully on election day and vote without fear, assuring them that the commission remained committed to delivering an election that would reflect the will of the electorate.