ABUJA President Bola Tinubu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, free and fair governorship election in Osun State.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday (today), with 15 candidates contesting the poll. They include the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President urged voters to come out and exercise their civic rights without fear, while calling on security agencies to protect voters and electoral officials.
Tinubu also charged INEC to ensure that the election was conducted transparently and in accordance with the law, describing the poll as an opportunity for the commission to demonstrate its readiness for the 2027 general elections.
“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 added, “INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians their full preparedness for the 2027 polls.”
The President further 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 troublemakers from disrupting the process.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
He urged voters to participate in the election peacefully and vote for candidates of their choice, assuring them that measures had been put in place to safeguard the electoral process.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” the President declared.