Adeleke Campaign Council Spokesman Faults Oyebamiji for Skipping Osun Peace Accord
Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
The spokesperson of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign council has criticised the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, for failing to attend the official peace accord ahead of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, describing the absence as disappointing and capable of sending the wrong signal about commitment to a peaceful democratic process.
The peace accord, organised by election stakeholders, security agencies and electoral authorities, was designed to secure the commitment of political parties and candidates to conduct issue-based campaigns and ensure that the election is free from violence, intimidation and electoral malpractice.
According to the Adeleke campaign council, every serious candidate seeking to govern Osun State should demonstrate respect for democratic institutions by participating in such engagements. The spokesman argued that staying away from the ceremony raises questions about a candidate’s willingness to abide by agreed rules aimed at ensuring peaceful elections.
Peace accord seen as critical ahead of election
Election peace accords have become an important feature of Nigeria’s electoral process. They are intended to reduce political tension by encouraging candidates, political parties and their supporters to reject violence before, during and after elections.
Political leaders who sign the agreement publicly pledge to conduct campaigns peacefully, respect electoral laws, avoid hate speech and accept credible election outcomes through legal channels where disputes arise.
The Osun peace accord attracted representatives of political parties, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and traditional institutions, all united in appealing for a violence-free election.
Adeleke campaign expresses concern
Reacting after the event, the Adeleke campaign spokesman said the APC candidate’s absence was unfortunate, particularly at a time when political stakeholders are expected to reassure citizens of their commitment to peaceful conduct.
According to the campaign, the governorship election should be decided by voters at the ballot box rather than through intimidation or political confrontation.
The spokesman maintained that Governor Adeleke and his campaign team remain committed to peaceful campaigns based on their achievements in office, urging supporters to remain law-abiding throughout the election period.
He further stated that every political actor has a responsibility to reduce tension rather than create uncertainty through actions that could be interpreted as disregard for collective agreements.
APC yet to provide detailed explanation
As of the time of reporting, there was no detailed official response from Bola Oyebamiji’s campaign explaining why the APC candidate did not attend the peace accord ceremony.
However, political observers note that candidates sometimes miss public engagements due to scheduling conflicts or other logistical reasons. Whether the absence was intentional or unavoidable remains unclear.
The APC campaign is expected to clarify its position as political activities intensify ahead of the election.
Stakeholders urge peaceful campaigns
Security agencies have repeatedly appealed to political parties and supporters to avoid violence, inflammatory statements and actions capable of disrupting public order.
INEC has also continued to remind contestants that elections should be based on persuasion, policies and programmes rather than threats or intimidation.
Civil society organisations monitoring the election have equally called on candidates to honour democratic principles by respecting institutions established to promote credible elections.
They stressed that peaceful elections strengthen public confidence in democracy and encourage greater voter participation.
Osun election expected to attract national attention
The forthcoming Osun governorship election is expected to be one of Nigeria’s closely watched off-cycle elections because of the state’s political significance and the intense rivalry between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition APC.
Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking another mandate while the APC hopes to reclaim the state through its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Political analysts believe the campaigns will increasingly focus on governance, infrastructure, education, healthcare, economic development and security as voters assess the performance of the incumbent administration against the promises of the opposition.
Observers have urged all parties to avoid inflammatory rhetoric capable of escalating political tensions.
Importance of the peace accord
Election experts say peace accords are not legally binding documents but serve as moral commitments that encourage candidates to embrace responsible political conduct.
The agreements also provide a framework for holding political actors accountable if they incite violence or encourage actions capable of undermining electoral credibility.
Across Nigeria, peace accords have become important confidence-building measures involving political parties, religious leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies and election observers.
Stakeholders believe that widespread adherence to these commitments can significantly reduce election-related violence and protect lives and property.
Looking ahead
With campaigns gathering momentum across Osun State, attention will now shift to how political parties conduct themselves in the weeks leading to the election.
Citizens, election observers and civil society groups are expected to closely monitor campaign activities, public statements and compliance with electoral regulations.
Regardless of political differences, stakeholders continue to emphasise that the ultimate objective should be a peaceful, transparent and credible election that reflects the will of the people.
As political competition intensifies, voters will be hoping that all candidates demonstrate maturity, respect democratic institutions and prioritise the stability of Osun State above partisan interests.
Sources: INEC, National Peace Committee, official statements from the Adeleke Campaign Council, APC communications.
