Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has firmly declared that the newly inaugurated Commission of Inquiry tasked with investigating violence and unlawful activities surrounding the recent governorship election is not a weapon for political persecution but a tool for justice, accountability, and the prevention of future electoral breaches. The governor made this clarification on Wednesday in Osogbo while inaugurating the Commission on pre-governorship election violence, alongside a coroner inquest into killings that occurred in Ikire town.
Represented by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada (SAN), Adeleke explained that the Commission was constituted in direct response to a flood of reports, petitions, and public concerns alleging widespread acts of violence, intimidation, assault, destruction of property, unlawful possession or use of weapons, breach of public peace, and other unlawful activities that occurred before and after the August 15, 2026 governorship election. The governor stressed that the body's primary objective is to ascertain the truth, identify persons who may have been affected, and determine responsibility supported by credible evidence.
"The Commission is not to witch-hunt, not set up to persecute any person, political party, candidate, group, public officer or security agency," Adeleke stated emphatically. He underscored the foundational importance of elections to democracy, asserting that citizens must be able to participate freely and peacefully without fear, intimidation, or violence. "Where allegations of unlawful conduct arise, government has a duty to ensure that the facts are carefully examined and that justice is pursued in accordance with the law," he said. He described the establishment of the Commission as "a clear demonstration of this administration's commitment to justice, accountability, public order, peace and the rule of law," adding that the panel was not meant to shield anyone from accountability. He charged the Commission to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the alleged incidents, identify persons or groups involved where evidence permits, ascertain persons affected, examine any damage to property, and review the roles of political actors, security agencies, and other stakeholders.
The governor's assurance comes against the backdrop of a violent electoral season that left deep scars across the state. Reports indicate that at least 34 election-related violent incidents and 18 deaths were recorded in Osun from May 2026, although other accounts have reported higher figures. Amnesty International had earlier reported at least 29 people killed in 73 election-related violent incidents as of the eve of the poll. The Accord Party, which fielded Adeleke, alleged coordinated attacks on its members, claiming 15 of its supporters were killed. An observer group, the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), documented 17 election-related violence incidents across 10 local government areas, with more than 44 victims affected. The group has since called for the prosecution of 295 persons arrested for various electoral offences.
In the wake of the violence, Adeleke had previously announced the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry, saying it would receive memoranda from victims and residents affected by the incidents. "Our administration is setting up a Commission of Inquiry on election violence. The body will take memoranda from all victims and residents who are affected by recent electoral violence. This initiative is to identify the causes and remedies and proffer ways to stop such recurrence in the future," Adeleke had said. The government has also unveiled a 10-member Committee on Election Violence Victims, chaired by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, to oversee the disbursement of the N500 million Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund.
The Commission of Inquiry now has the weighty responsibility of sifting through the evidence, hearing from victims and perpetrators alike, and making recommendations that could strengthen public peace and prevent a recurrence of such unlawful conduct in the state. While the political atmosphere remains charged, the governor's message is unambiguous: the pursuit of justice must not be confused with a political vendetta. As Adeleke noted, where credible evidence confirms wrongdoing, the panel will make firm, fair, and lawful recommendations. The Commission's findings could set a precedent for how election-related violence is addressed in Nigeria, offering a path toward accountability and, hopefully, a more peaceful democratic process in the future.
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