Traditional worshippers urge INEC to shift Osun governorship election over festival clash

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRAWSO), Osun State, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the August 8, 2026 governorship election in the state, citing its clash with the annual Osun/Osogbo Festival.

The association made the request in a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, noting that the election date falls within the period scheduled for the revered cultural and spiritual festival, which attracts large crowds from within and outside Nigeria.

In the letter jointly signed by the President of TRAWSO, Dr Oluseyi O.A. Atanda, Vice President, Chief Fagbenle Adedayo, and Secretary-General, Chief Ifasola Onifade, the group explained that the 2026 Osun/Osogbo Festival has been traditionally fixed to run from July 27 to August 7.

They described the Osun/Osogbo Festival as a sacred religious event with deep spiritual ties to Osogbo, which has also grown into a global tourism attraction and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for more than 200 years.

According to the association, the festival is the largest crowd-pulling cultural event in Nigeria, with the grand finale traditionally holding on Friday, August 7, 2026, and activities expected to last until about 6:00 pm when the Arugba returns to the palace.

“By custom, Friday, August 7, 2026 is the grand finale for the festival and activities on that day will not end until about 6:00 pm after the Arugba returns to the palace. Many adherents and tourists from within and outside Nigeria would be in town, especially on that day. The festival is not usually shifted as it is customarily held on a spiritually calculated Friday,” the association stated.

TRAWSO warned that holding the governorship election the following day could pose security challenges due to movement restrictions and the influx of travellers and tourists, adding that politicians might exploit the situation to cause unrest.

The association recalled that the 2015 presidential election was shifted from February 14 to March 28 due to security concerns, urging INEC to similarly reconsider the date of the Osun governorship election.