President Bola Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State.
Tinubu gave the directive on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s election, in which 15 candidates are contesting the governorship of the state.
Among the major contenders are the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke; the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President urged INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the poll meets acceptable standards of transparency and fairness.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The President described the Osun governorship election as an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its level of preparedness for the 2027 general elections, urging the commission to use the poll as a test of its capacity to conduct credible elections.
He also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs deployed for the election to provide adequate protection at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the exercise.
Tinubu specifically called for the protection of voters and electoral officials, stressing that citizens must be allowed to exercise their franchise without fear, intimidation or violence.
The President urged Osun residents to come out and vote for candidates of their choice, assuring them that security measures had been put in place before, during and after the election. He also called on all stakeholders to avoid actions capable of undermining the process, insisting that the final result must reflect the will of the electorate.
