Election Summit State Actors Agrees on Safeguarding Peace Ahead Governorship Election, Supports KDI Over Rising Election Violence
Osogbo, July 13, 2026 – The Team Lead of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Bukola Idowu, has called on political actors, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), traditional rulers, the media, and the electorate to work collectively towards ensuring a peaceful, free, and credible governorship election in Osun State.
Speaking at the Osun Election Peace and Security Summit (EPSS 2026) held at the Aurora Conference and Event Centre, Osogbo, Idowu warned that elections should be decided through ballots rather than violence, stressing that “no ambition is worth a human life.”
Presenting findings from KDI’s Electoral Security Risk Assessment, he disclosed that Osun recorded 56 election-related violent incidents within the last 12 months, compared with 26 non-election-related incidents, while 14 people lost their lives in election-related violence. He further revealed that 65 percent of the violent incidents occurred in May and June 2026 as political campaigns intensified.
Idowu noted that Osogbo accounted for 23 of the 56 recorded incidents and nine of the 14 fatalities, making it the highest-risk area in the state, although other local government areas such as Oriade, Irepodun, Irewole, Iwo, and Obokun also recorded deadly incidents.
He explained that election violence in the state has become increasingly strategic, targeting political strongholds, campaign routes, party offices, and symbolic communities with the aim of suppressing voter turnout and intimidating opponents.
Addressing candidates and political parties, Idowu urged them to focus on issue-based campaigns rather than violence, misinformation, or hate speech. According to him, leadership is demonstrated not only by winning elections but also by restraining supporters from acts capable of undermining democracy.
The KDI Team Lead also appealed to youths to reject inducement by politicians, warning them not to sacrifice their future for election-day payments or political manipulation.
He called on security agencies to maintain professionalism, neutrality, and early deployment to identified flashpoints, while urging INEC to ensure timely logistics, effective communication, and transparency to prevent rumours capable of triggering unrest.
Idowu further appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, and the media to promote dialogue, discourage hate speech, verify information before publication, and support peacebuilding efforts throughout the election period.
Calling on eligible voters, he urged them to reject vote-buying, violence, fake news, and electoral inducement while participating peacefully in the electoral process.
He stressed that democracy remains a shared responsibility requiring collaboration among INEC, political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, the media, and citizens.
Concluding his address, Idowu urged all stakeholders to renew their commitment to peace, expressing hope that the August 16, 2026 Osun Governorship Election would be remembered for credibility, maturity, and peaceful participation rather than violence.
“May peace come before politics. May Osun come before party. May democracy come before desperation. And may the people of Osun win, no matter who wins the election,” he said.