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 candidates are the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
In a statement, President Tinubu urged INEC to ensure that the electoral process is orderly, free and fair, while calling on security agencies to provide adequate protection for voters and electoral officials.
“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 urged the electoral commission to use the Osun election, the last off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections, as an opportunity to demonstrate its preparedness for the forthcoming polls.
“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 directed the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies participating in the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the exercise.
“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.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
He encouraged eligible voters to come out and exercise their franchise, assuring them that adequate security measures had been put in place before, during and after the election.
“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.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” the President declared.
