#OsunDecides2026: Afenifere seeks peaceful election on Saturday

As residents of Osun State go to the polls in a governorship election on Saturday, pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, on Thursday, charged all stakeholders to conduct themselves peacefully during the election in the overall interest of the citizens and democracy. 

The appeal was contained in a statement signed by the leader of Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan. 

Titled “Let peace reign,” Afenifere stressed that all vested interests in the poll owed the country the duty of ensuring a peaceful and nonviolent election.

It expressed strong reservations on the wave of ugly incidents that characterised the electioneering, culminating in the conduct of the election taking place on Saturday, urging the parties to comport themselves to guarantee that the choice of the electorate prevails.

Part of the statement of Afenifere reads: “At this juncture in the political history of Osun State, we deem it fit and proper to offer some fatherly advice and caution on the governorship election coming up tomorrow in the state. 

“We passionately plead for wisdom and proper conduct from all stakeholders, particularly the political parties, leaders, candidates, electoral commission and law enforcement agents on the management of the process.

“Weeks of violence, tirades, blame games, and near subterfuge have exacerbated tensions, created acrimony and infused near bigotry among a people renowned for equanimity, high intellect, scholarship, respect for the sanctity of lives, and other values that exalt the sons of Oduduwa since time immemorial. 

“Yoruba are known to be pacesetters in all positive trajectories of human capital development and decency. We lead while others take a cue from our propensity for breaking grounds. 

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“Therefore, we plead that the governorship election coming up tomorrow in Osun State must not be turned into an avoidable spectre of absurdities, untoward behaviours and inanities in whatever form and shade.” 

Afenifere noted that Osun residents have come a long way as a people and as a state of harmony, the living spring and fountain of progressive tendencies, values, and culture.

It added, “We must not allow anything to tar that reputation. In other words, the spirit of all shades of leaders, living and dead, who represent the finest among their peers in nation-building must allow wisdom and wise counsel prevail before, during and after the ballot on Saturday.

“We make this solemn, sincere, profound and purposeful plea in the name of our founding fathers, forbearers and progenitor, so that posterity will remember and celebrate all residents of Osun State nay the Yoruba Nation, for doing good and demonstrating maturity, discipline and calmness, even in moments of perceived extreme provocation,  confrontation and potentially dire situations.

“Our prayer in Afenifere is that all stakeholders guarantee an atmosphere of peace, which is sine quo non for stability, security of lives and property, economic growth and development, as well as communal conviviality. 

“Election into public offices in a participatory democracy must be seen and embraced as  a routine, practical competition; humans will always remain, and whose interest, from all intents and purposes, must override other primordial factors among the major actors.”