The National Peace Committee (NPC) has disclosed that it received serious security concerns from Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and will formally pass them to security agencies ahead of the 15 August governorship election.
Speaking at the symbolic signing of the Peace Accord on Thursday in Osogbo, NPC delegation chairman and former Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onayekan, confirmed the committee had engaged the governor before the event.
“He expressed strong concerns and anxieties which we shall also pass on to the relevant authorities, especially the police and the other security agents,” Onayekan said.
Call for impartiality and peaceful campaigns
Onayekan stressed that the committee’s mandate is to ensure political parties campaign peacefully and abide by the law, reminding candidates that elections should not divide the state.
He also emphasized that the integrity of the election relies heavily on the conduct of law enforcement officers and electoral officials.
“The security agents are there to secure all of us — not to secure any political party or anybody,” Onayekan stated. “It is absolutely important that they try their best to be professional in what they do and to be completely impartial.”
Candidates gather for peace accord
Candidates from 13 political parties attended or sent representatives to sign the peace agreement, including the Accord Party, ADC, NNPP, and APGA. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, was absent.
The NPC delegation—representing committee chairman General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd)—included retired General Martin Luther Agwai, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah, and Rev. Atta Barkindo, alongside INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan and Assistant Inspector-General of Police Fasuba Olabode.
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