President Bola Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State, as voters prepare to elect a new governor on Saturday.
The President made the call in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urging INEC to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the poll is conducted in an orderly, free and fair manner.
The election, scheduled for August 15, 2026, will feature 15 candidates, including the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam.
Tinubu urged INEC to use the Osun election as an opportunity to demonstrate its preparedness for the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for an electoral process that commands public confidence.
“As the people of Osun State head to the polling units to elect who will govern them in the next four years, I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure orderly conduct of the election. The election must be transparent, free and fair. I urge INEC to ensure the integrity of the process,” the President said.
He added, “INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians their full preparedness for the 2027 polls.”
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs involved in the election to provide adequate security at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the exercise.
“I have charged the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security outfits taking part in the election to provide maximum security at polling units. No room should be allowed for troublemakers to disrupt the process,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that the protection of voters and electoral officials remained essential to the credibility of the election, urging security personnel to ensure that citizens could exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” he said.
Tinubu consequently urged Osun residents to come out and vote for candidates of their choice, assuring them that measures had been put in place to guarantee their safety before and after the election.
“Voters should feel confident to go out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice as all measures necessary to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election have been put in place,” the President stated.
He further insisted that the credibility of the poll would be measured by whether its outcome reflected the choice of the electorate.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” Tinubu declared.
