President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure the safety of voters and electoral officials.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates contesting the poll. Among the major contenders are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam.
In a statement, Tinubu urged INEC to ensure the orderly conduct of the election and safeguard the integrity of 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 described the election as an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its preparedness 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,” Tinubu added.
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies deployed for the election to provide adequate security at polling units and prevent individuals or groups 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.
Tinubu stressed that both voters and electoral officials must be protected from intimidation, harassment and violence, urging residents to participate in the election without fear.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” he said.
He further appealed to Osun residents to turn out in large numbers and vote for candidates of their choice while refraining from actions capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the poll.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu reiterated the need for the outcome of the election to reflect the will of the people, stressing that credible elections remain essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” he declared.
