Tinubu Urges INEC, Security Agencies to Ensure Peaceful, Credible Osun Governorship Election
Tinubu Urges INEC, Security Agencies to Ensure Peaceful, Credible Osun Governorship Election
Tinubu Urges INEC, Security Agencies to Ensure Peaceful, Credible Osun Governorship Election
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State.
The election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates contesting for the governorship seat.
Among the major contenders are the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu urged INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the election is conducted in an orderly, free and fair manner.
“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.
Tinubu described the Osun election as the last off-cycle governorship poll before the 2027 general elections, urging INEC to use the exercise to demonstrate its preparedness to conduct credible elections.
“INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians their full preparedness for the 2027 polls,” he added.
Tinubu Directs Security Agencies to Protect Voters
The President said he had directed the Inspector-General of Police and heads of other security agencies participating in the election to provide adequate security at polling units and prevent individuals or groups from disrupting the electoral process.
“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,” he stated.
He stressed that electoral officials and voters must be protected from intimidation, violence or any form of interference, assuring residents that necessary security measures had been put in place.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
The President also encouraged eligible voters across Osun State to turn out and exercise their constitutional right to vote for candidates of their choice.
“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,” he said.
‘The Outcome Must Reflect the Will of Osun People’
President Tinubu further emphasised the importance of credible elections to Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that the outcome of Saturday’s poll must accurately reflect 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,” the President declared.
With the election bringing together candidates from 15 political parties, attention is now focused on INEC, security agencies, political parties, candidates and voters to ensure that the exercise is conducted peacefully and in accordance with Nigeria’s electoral laws.
The President’s appeal comes as Osun State prepares for a major democratic exercise that will determine who leads the state for the next four years.
Tinubu Urges INEC, Security Agencies to Ensure Peaceful, Credible Osun Governorship Election
