Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the August 15 governorship election is free, fair and credible, warning against a repeat of the controversies that surrounded the 1983 election in the old Oyo State.

Speaking at an Accord Party rally in Osogbo, Adeleke alleged that opposition supporters were being attacked and intimidated. He urged the president to direct the police to act professionally and concentrate on protecting voters and combating crime.

Adeleke said he was confident of victory in a transparent election and asked supporters to vote in large numbers and remain at polling centres lawfully until results were declared.

His campaign organisation also petitioned the National Human Rights Commission over alleged politically motivated arrests and intimidation of its members. Campaign spokesman Pelumi Olajengbesi called on the Inspector General of Police to guarantee the safety of residents and the neutrality of security agencies.

The Accord Party described the poll as a major test of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s readiness for the 2027 general election and urged the commission to ensure reliable deployment of materials and transparent collation.