A former Oyo State governorship aspirant, Dr Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK), has warned political actors in Osun State against provocation, violence and actions capable of threatening the peaceful conduct of the August 15 governorship election.

Kareem, in a statement on Friday, urged political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and their supporters to exercise restraint and allow peace to prevail as the state approaches the poll.

The former aspirant, who described Osun and Oyo states as closely connected by history, culture and heritage, said the stability of Osun remained important to the wider region.

He said political differences should not be allowed to degenerate into violence, intimidation or other actions capable of undermining the democratic process.

While openly backing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), Kareem stressed that political victory should be achieved through ideas, credible programmes and the confidence of the electorate rather than force.

He urged candidates and their supporters to focus their campaigns on governance, development and policy solutions, saying the people of Osun deserved an election that respected their intelligence and dignity.

On the recent security concerns in the state, Kareem said he would not apportion blame or identify any political faction as responsible for the tensions.

Instead, he appealed to all political parties and campaign organisations to respect the people of Osun and work collectively towards preserving peace before, during and after the election.

According to him, Osun must not return to a period when politically sponsored violence, intimidation and crisis were allowed to influence electoral outcomes.

He urged voters to come out on August 15 without fear or favour and exercise their civic rights, while expressing his support for the APC candidate as the preferred choice for progress in the state.

Kareem also commended security agencies for their efforts in maintaining law and order, but called for increased vigilance, proactive intelligence gathering and strict neutrality in the days leading to the election.

He said every eligible voter should be guaranteed a peaceful and secure environment to cast their ballot, stressing that protecting the integrity of the electoral process was a collective responsibility.

Kareem maintained that the conduct of the 2026 election would have lasting implications for Osun State, urging political stakeholders to place the future of the state above partisan interests.