Tinubu Urges Peaceful Osun Election, Orders Security Agencies to Protect Voters

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 President made the call on Friday, August 14, ahead of Saturday’s election in which 15 candidates are contesting for the state’s top political office.

Among the major contenders are the incumbent governor and Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke; the All Progressives Congress candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam.

Tinubu urged INEC to ensure that the electoral process is orderly, free and fair, describing the Osun election as an opportunity for the commission to demonstrate its preparedness ahead of 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 President said.

He also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs involved in the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the exercise.

According to the President, voters and electoral officials must be protected from intimidation so they can participate in the election without fear.

Tinubu equally appealed to Osun residents to come out and exercise their civic rights while avoiding actions capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the poll.

He assured residents that measures had been put in place to protect them before, during and after the election.

“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” Tinubu declared.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold across the state on Saturday, August 15, with the contest widely regarded as an important political test ahead of the 2027 elections.