Tinubu urges INEC and security agencies to ensure peaceful, transparent Osun election, protect voters and officials, and uphold electoral integrity.
President Bola 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 President made the call ahead of Saturday’s election, August 15, 2026, in which 15 candidates are contesting to govern the state.
Among the leading contenders are the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged INEC to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and conduct the election in a 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.
He described the election as an important opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its readiness for 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.
Tinubu also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs involved in the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the 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 said.
The President stressed that electoral officials and voters must be protected from intimidation and violence, urging residents to participate fully in the election.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
He assured Osun residents that adequate security measures had been put in place to enable them to vote for candidates of their choice without fear.
“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.
Tinubu further emphasised the need for the election’s outcome to reflect the choice of Osun voters.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” the President declared.
