Osun 2026: Tinubu Charges INEC, Security Agencies on Credible Guber Election
President Bola Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Fifteen candidates are contesting the governorship election, including the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party; 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, Tinubu urged INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure an orderly conduct of the poll.
“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 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 said.
Read Also:
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies deployed for the election to provide adequate protection for voters, electoral officials and other stakeholders.
“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 stressed the need to protect voters and electoral officials from intimidation, urging residents to participate in the election without fear.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” he added.
Tinubu urged eligible voters across the state to turn out in large numbers and exercise their constitutional right to vote while avoiding actions capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of 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,” he said.
The President further emphasised that the credibility of the election would ultimately depend on whether its outcome reflects the genuine choice of the people of Osun State.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” Tinubu declared.
By PRNigeria
