Chairmen of political parties in Osun State have announced plans to convene a peace summit aimed at promoting a peaceful, free, fair and credible governorship election ahead of the August 15, 2026 poll.
Speaking at a press briefing in Osogbo on Tuesday, the Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Tosin Odeyemi, said the summit was initiated by the Forum of Osun State Political Parties Chairmen to bring together key stakeholders in the electoral process for dialogue and consensus-building.
According to Odeyemi, the summit is designed to identify strategies for ensuring peace before, during and after the election, while fostering cooperation among political actors regardless of party affiliations.
He noted that Osun State belongs to all residents and that political party leaders have a responsibility to promote and sustain a transparent, inclusive and peaceful electoral environment.
“We want this forthcoming election to be without rancour. We are emphasizing tolerance, accommodation and peaceful coexistence among residents irrespective of the outcome of the election,” he said.
The NNPP chairman described the planned summit as the first of its kind in the state’s political history and expressed confidence that it would positively influence the conduct of the governorship election.
Speaking on the crisis rocking the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Odeyemi explained that while IPAC still exists, elections into its leadership in Osun State have not been conducted, creating a vacuum that led party chairmen to form a forum known as “The Democrats” to coordinate activities among political parties pending the emergence of a new IPAC leadership.
He said the group comprises a majority of registered political parties in the state and was established to ensure that important political engagements and interventions are not neglected.
Addressing concerns that the summit may have been prompted by fears of violence during the governorship election, Odeyemi said the initiative was a proactive measure aimed at preventing conflict and safeguarding peace.
He stressed that party chairmen, as long-term custodians of their political parties, have a responsibility to ensure stability beyond the election period.
“We are coming together as Osun indigenes to publicly declare that we want peace in our state. We believe the media will help amplify this message across the state,” he said.
The organizers disclosed that the summit is expected to hold within the next two weeks, with the exact date to be announced later. They added that political leaders, stakeholders, civil society groups and members of the media would be invited to participate in the discussions.
The forum expressed optimism that the gathering would help strengthen peaceful democratic practices and contribute to a credible electoral process in Osun State.