Osun Governance Summit Set for July 16 as Stakeholders Push for Peaceful Election

The Osun Development Association (ODA) will on July 16 convene a democratic governance summit aimed at promoting peaceful, issue-based campaigns and strengthening electoral accountability ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.

The summit, organised by the association’s Leadership and Governance Committee (LEAD-GOV), is themed “Speak, Choose, Hold Accountable: Citizens at the Centre of Osun’s Democracy.”

According to a statement issued by the association’s Publicity Secretary, Chris Adetayo, the summit is designed to place citizens at the centre of the democratic process while encouraging political actors and institutions to uphold transparency, accountability and peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.

The Chairman of the LEAD-GOV Committee, Tunji Olugbodi, said the initiative reflects the association’s commitment to fostering credible elections and strengthening democratic governance in Osun State.

He noted that the state stands at a critical point in its democratic journey and has the opportunity to set a national standard for peaceful and development-oriented elections.

“Osun State is at a critical democratic crossroads,” Olugbodi said.

“We believe our state can, and must, set a national benchmark for peaceful, credible and development-driven elections. This summit moves citizens from the periphery to the very centre of the democratic process, demanding institutional accountability from all political actors.”

Olugbodi said the summit is strictly non-partisan and seeks to encourage issue-based political engagement amid growing concerns over reports of political violence, destruction of campaign materials and heightened political tension ahead of the governorship poll.

He said the event will bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and governorship candidates, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, professional associations, youth and women groups, as well as members of the media.

According to the statement, participants are expected to deliberate on measures to safeguard the electoral process and strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.

One of the major outcomes of the summit will be the unveiling of the Osun 2026 Peace Charter, a public commitment by all political parties and governorship candidates to reject violence and conduct issue-based campaigns throughout the election period.

The summit will also produce a Governance Accountability Charter, a citizen-driven document outlining public expectations for the next administration, as well as a communiqué containing policy recommendations on maintaining political stability before and after the election.

The communiqué, the association said, will be circulated nationwide to promote best practices in democratic governance and electoral management.

ODA further disclosed that it would partner with the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) to implement a post-summit monitoring and evaluation framework that will track compliance with commitments made by political actors for three months after the governorship election.

The association said the exercise is intended to ensure that pledges made at the summit translate into measurable actions and sustained accountability beyond the polls.

Chairman of ODA, Segun Aina, said broad participation by stakeholders and the media would strengthen public oversight of the electoral process and reinforce efforts to sustain peace across the state.

He expressed confidence that collaborative engagement among political leaders, institutions and citizens would contribute to a peaceful, credible and transparent governorship election.