By John Dike, Osogbo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure the conduct of 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 the electoral umpire to uphold the integrity of the election and ensure that the outcome reflects the will of the people.
The President noted that residents of Osun State would be electing a governor from among 15 candidates contesting the election, including the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
Tinubu also appealed to eligible voters to turn out in large numbers to perform their civic responsibility peacefully and avoid any act capable of disrupting the electoral process.
“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 that the Osun governorship election should serve as a critical test of INEC’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
“INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians its full preparedness for the 2027 polls,” he stated.
President Tinubu further disclosed that he had directed the Inspector-General of Police and heads of other security agencies participating in the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent any attempt to disrupt 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.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” he said.
The President assured residents that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee their safety before, during 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.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” Tinubu declared.
