On Thursday, twelve of the 14 political parties running for governor of Osun State on August 15 backed vows to peace and accountability.
According to , the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not attend the signing ceremony in Osogbo.
The Peace and Accountability Charters were signed at the Osun 2026 Democratic Governance, Peace, and Electoral Integrity Summit, which was held by the Osun Development Association (ODA) to promote peaceful campaigns and responsible leadership ahead of the governorship race.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is running for a second term on the Accord platform, was represented at the occasion by Bunmi Jenyo, the Commissioner for Industry, who signed the paperwork on his behalf.
Representatives from 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 all signed the charters.
The APC and ADC candidates, as well as their representatives, did not attend the summit or participate in the signing procedure.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Segun Aina, Chairman of the Osun Development Association, praised the two documents as significant promises to promote peaceful elections and accountable governance. Dr Tunji Olugbodi presented the keynote presentation.
Aina emphasised that the Peace Charter urged political parties and candidates to reject violence, focus on issue-based campaigns, respect electoral institutions, protect voters, seek legal recourse for election disputes, and maintain peace when the results were announced.
He stated, “Every party and every candidate that signs this Charter today does so publicly, before the people of Osun State.”
Aina went on to praise the participants in the exercise, stating, “Your mere presence here today is a statement. It indicates that you value the democratic process. It demonstrates that you recognise that elections are won by ideas rather than intimidation.”
The association’s chairman also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to ensure that the election was transparent and credible, while also urging security agencies to protect lives and property before, during, and after the vote.
In a goodwill message issued by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to conducting peaceful and credible elections throughout the state.
Governor, “Our belief is simply that no political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen and no office is more valuable than the life of a single man, woman or child.”
Representatives from the participating political parties addressed the summit, promising to follow electoral laws and contribute to a peaceful and credible governorship election.
Fourteen political parties are likely to register candidates for the 15 August governorship election. Governor Adeleke is running for another term on the Accord platform, with Bola Oyebamiji representing the APC and Najeem Salaam representing the ADC.