President Bola Tinubu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible Osun governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The poll will feature 15 candidates seeking to lead Osun State for the next four years. Among the leading contenders are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged INEC to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure an orderly poll.
“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 governorship election as an important opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its readiness ahead of the 2027 general 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.
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs deployed for the election to provide adequate protection for voters and electoral personnel.
“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 stated. He particularly stressed the need to shield voters and electoral officials from intimidation, urging residents to participate confidently in the democratic process.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” he said.
Tinubu encouraged eligible voters across the state to turn out and vote for candidates of their choice while avoiding actions capable of undermining the exercise.
“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 President said the ultimate test of the Osun governorship election would be whether the declared result faithfully represented the decision 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. With voting scheduled for Saturday, attention is now focused on INEC, security agencies, political parties and voters as the state prepares for the off-cycle election.
