President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President urged INEC to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the poll is conducted in an orderly and transparent manner.
Tinubu described the August 15 election as an opportunity for the electoral commission to demonstrate its readiness for the 2027 general elections.
“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,” he said.
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs deployed for the election to provide adequate protection for voters, electoral officials and other participants.
He warned against allowing individuals or groups to disrupt the poll, stressing that voters must be able to exercise their rights without intimidation.
“No room should be allowed for troublemakers to disrupt the process,” Tinubu said.
He urged Osun residents to turn out and vote for candidates of their choice while avoiding actions capable of undermining the election.
The President said the credibility of the poll would ultimately 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,” he said.
Fifteen candidates are contesting the governorship election, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam.
