President Bola Tinubu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State.
The people of Osun State will go to the polls on Saturday, August 15, 2026, to elect their governor, with 15 candidates contesting the election.
Among the leading contenders are the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
In a statement, Tinubu urged INEC to ensure an orderly conduct of the election and protect 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.
Tinubu described the Osun governorship election as an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its preparedness ahead of 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,” he added.
The President also charged the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies participating in the election to provide maximum security at polling units.
He warned against allowing individuals or groups to disrupt the electoral process, stressing that electoral officials and voters must be protected from intimidation.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He urged voters to turn out in large numbers and exercise their constitutional right to choose their preferred candidate.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu also assured the people of Osun State of their safety before, during and after the election.
He stressed the importance of credible elections and called on all stakeholders to ensure that the outcome reflects the wishes of the electorate.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” the President declared.
