The Osun Development Association (ODA) has announced plans to host a high-level Democratic Governance, Peace and Electoral Integrity Summit aimed at promoting peaceful, credible and issue-based campaigns ahead of the August 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The summit, scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Aurora Event Centre, New GRA, Osogbo, will bring together key electoral, security, political, religious and civil society stakeholders to strengthen democratic accountability and reduce political tension in the state.
Organised by the Leadership and Governance Committee (LEAD-GOV) of the association, the event is themed: “Speak, Choose, Hold Accountable: Citizens at the Centre of Osun’s Democracy.”
According to a statement issued by the committee, the summit is a non-partisan civic intervention by Osun’s diaspora and domestic development stakeholders in response to increasing reports of political violence, destruction of campaign materials and personality-driven politics ahead of the election.
Chairman of ODA’s LEAD-GOV Committee, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, said the association believes Osun has an opportunity to become a national model for peaceful and development-focused elections.
“Osun State is at a critical democratic crossroads. We believe our state can, and must, set a national benchmark for peaceful, credible and development-driven elections. This summit moves citizens from the periphery to the very centre of the democratic process, demanding institutional accountability from all political actors,” he said.
The summit is expected to attract representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), heads of security agencies, registered political parties and their governorship candidates, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Ummah leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, professional bodies, youth and women’s groups, as well as members of the media.
A major highlight of the event will be the unveiling and signing of three key documents: the Osun 2026 Peace Charter, which commits political parties and candidates to peaceful and issue-based campaigns; the Governance
Accountability Charter, outlining citizens’ expectations from the next administration; and the Summit Communiqué, which will provide recommendations for ensuring pre- and post-election stability.
The association also disclosed that, in collaboration with the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), it would establish a post-summit monitoring framework to assess compliance with commitments made by political actors for three months after the governorship election.
ODA Chairman, Dr. Segun Aina, OFR, said the involvement of religious leaders, traditional institutions and the media would strengthen public confidence and provide the moral authority needed to sustain peace before, during and after the election.
He called on all stakeholders to embrace dialogue, accountability and peaceful participation in the electoral process, stressing that the future of Osun State depends on credible democratic governance.
The association further urged journalists, civil society organisations and invited corporate delegates to complete their accreditation with the LEAD-GOV Committee Secretariat ahead of the summit.
