APC, ADC absent as guber candidates endorse Osun Peace Summit

Twelve of the 14 political parties contesting the August 15 Osun State governorship election endorsed peace and accountability commitments on Thursday.

DAILY POST reports that the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, were absent from the signing ceremony held in Osogbo.

The Peace and Accountability Charters were signed during the Osun 2026 Democratic Governance, Peace and Electoral Integrity Summit, organised by the Osun Development Association, ODA, to encourage peaceful campaigns and responsible leadership before the governorship election.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord, was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Industry, Bunmi Jenyo, who signed the documents on his behalf.

Representatives of the Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Young Progressive Party and Zenith Labour Party also appended their signatures to the charters.

However, neither the candidates of the APC and ADC nor their representatives attended the summit or participated in the signing exercise.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Osun Development Association, Dr Segun Aina, whose address was delivered by Dr Tunji Olugbodi, described the two documents as significant commitments aimed at promoting peaceful elections and accountable governance.

Aina explained that the Peace Charter required political parties and candidates to reject violence, focus on issue-based campaigns, respect electoral institutions, protect voters, pursue legal channels for election disputes and maintain peace after the declaration of results.

He said, “Every party and every candidate that signs this Charter today does so publicly, before the people of Osun State.”

Aina further commended the parties that participated in the exercise, saying, “Your presence here today is itself a statement. It signals that you respect the democratic process. It signals that you understand that elections are won through ideas and not intimidation.”

The association’s chairman also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to ensure that the election was transparent and credible, while urging security agencies to protect lives and property before, during and after the poll.

In a goodwill message delivered by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peaceful and credible elections across the state.

According to the governor, “Our belief is simply that no political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen and no office is more valuable than the life of a single man, woman or child.”

Representatives of the participating political parties also addressed the summit, pledging to comply with electoral laws and contribute to a peaceful and credible governorship election.

Fourteen political parties are expected to field candidates in the August 15 governorship election. Governor Adeleke is contesting for another term on the Accord platform, while Bola Oyebamiji represents the APC and Najeem Salaam is the candidate of the ADC.

The summit formed part of broader efforts by civil society organisations and election stakeholders to promote peaceful conduct, democratic accountability and electoral integrity ahead of the forthcoming Osun governorship election.