President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State.
The election is scheduled to hold today, Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates contesting the governorship seat.
Among the leading contenders are the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu urged INEC to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and ensure an orderly election.
“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 also urged the electoral commission to use the Osun governorship election as an opportunity to demonstrate its preparedness for 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.
Tinubu further directed the Inspector-General of Police and heads of other security agencies deployed for the election to ensure adequate protection for voters and electoral officials.
“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,” he said.
The President also stressed the importance of protecting voters and electoral officials from intimidation, urging residents to participate freely in the democratic process.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
He called on all stakeholders and residents of Osun State to ensure that the election is conducted peacefully and that the will of the people is respected.