The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, has appealed for the support of traditional rulers in ensuring a peaceful, credible and violence-free governorship election in Osun State in August.

Prof. Amupitan made the appeal on Tuesday during a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in Ile-Ife.

He expressed concern over the political atmosphere in the state, urging traditional rulers to appeal to politicians and political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns devoid of rancour and violence.

“The blood of Nigerians is not worth the ambition of any politician,” Amupitan said.

Amupitan said the visit was to formally notify the Ooni of the forthcoming governorship election and to seek royal prayers and blessings ahead of what he described as one of Nigeria’s most significant off-cycle elections.

“The visit is to formally announce to you that the Osun governorship election is coming up on Saturday, August 15, 2026,” the INEC chairman said, adding that Osun occupies a special place in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The INEC chairman also called for proper verification of information to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation, warning that false information could fuel unnecessary violence before, during and after the election.

Amupitan said restoring public confidence in the electoral body remained one of his priorities, stressing that the commission was committed to conducting elections that were credible, free, fair and transparent.

“We have decided that one of the ways we can build trust is to ensure that elections must be credible, free, fair and transparent,” he stated.

He explained that INEC, as a creation of the Nigerian Constitution, is responsible for conducting elections into elective offices across Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as registering and deregistering political parties, conducting referendums and maintaining the national voters’ register.

The INEC chairman also announced that the 2027 general elections would commence with the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027.

He noted that earlier off-cycle and by-elections had delayed his visit to Ile-Ife.

Describing the Osun governorship poll as “the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria,” Amupitan said it would serve as a mirror for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

He urged traditional rulers to work towards ensuring that the election was peaceful, commenced on schedule and had a timely declaration of results.

He disclosed that all 12 National Commissioners of INEC, representing the six geopolitical zones, accompanied him on the visit, saying the commission considered it important to pay homage to the Ooni in recognition of Ile-Ife as the ancestral cradle of the Yoruba race.

Responding, the Ooni of Ife said traditional rulers in Osun had remained above partisan politics despite growing political tension in the state.

“The traditional rulers have resolved to tell politicians the truth and encourage them to do what is fair and right because the political tension is becoming unbearable and worrisome,” the monarch said.

The Ooni urged INEC to remain impartial and allow the electorate to freely choose their preferred candidates, while commending President Bola Tinubu for strengthening the commission’s independence.

He appealed to the electoral body to “do what is right, just and fair,” stressing that the interest of traditional rulers was beyond politics and centred on the peace, stability and progress of Osun State.