Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the Bola Tinubu administration against what he described as the militarisation of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, spoke at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit, where he described the Osun poll as an important test of Nigeria’s commitment to credible and transparent elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Vice President expressed concern over the scale and posture of security deployment around the election, saying it appeared more like preparation for a war than a democratic exercise.
He questioned why such a large security presence was being deployed for an election when terrorists, kidnappers and bandits continue to attack communities and kill Nigerians across the country.
“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents,” Atiku said.
He stressed that security agencies and INEC are institutions of the Nigerian state and should not be used to advance the interests of any political party.
“The police belong to Nigeria. The military belongs to Nigeria. INEC belongs to the Nigerian people. None of them belongs to the APC,” he said.
Atiku urged the authorities to ensure that voters are allowed to freely exercise their constitutional rights, stressing that the outcome of the election should reflect the wishes of the electorate.
“The world is watching Osun. Nigerians are watching. History is taking notes. Let the people vote. Let every vote count. And let the will of the people prevail,” he added.
He also warned INEC against what he described as possible “mysterious glitches, unexplained delays or manipulation” during the electoral process.
According to him, electoral materials must arrive on time, voters must be allowed to cast their ballots without hindrance, votes must be counted transparently and results must be transmitted in accordance with established procedures.
Atiku Questions Tinubu’s Certificate
Speaking further at the event, Atiku encouraged Nigerian youths to register and organise ahead of the 2027 elections, saying they have a critical role to play in determining the country’s political future.
He also raised questions over the certificate President Bola Tinubu submitted to INEC, citing reported discrepancies in dates, signatures and the description of the degree.
Atiku said such discrepancies would ordinarily require an explanation if they occurred in an employment application.
“If you were applying for a job today and submitted a certificate bearing one date, while another version of what purports to be the same certificate carried a different date and different signatures, what do you think your prospective employer would do?” he asked.
He argued that the same standard should apply to political leaders, particularly the person occupying the nation’s highest elected office.
“I am not asking you to accept my conclusion. I am asking something much simpler: if a young Nigerian would be required to explain such discrepancies before getting an ordinary job, why should the man seeking Nigeria’s highest job be exempt from the same standard?” Atiku said.
He added that addressing such perceived double standards was part of the broader change he believes Nigeria needs.
“That is part of the Nigeria we must change—a Nigeria where there is one standard for those in power and another for everyone else,” he said.
