ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed 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 on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The president also urged voters across the state to participate in the election without fear, while directing security agencies to protect voters, electoral officials and election materials throughout the voting process.
The Osun governorship election features 15 candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam.
In a statement, Tinubu urged INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the election is conducted in accordance with established rules.
“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.
“The election must be transparent, free and fair. I urge INEC to ensure the integrity of the process.”
Tinubu challenges INEC ahead of 2027 elections
Tinubu described the Osun election as an important opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its preparedness for Nigeria’s 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.
The president’s comments place additional focus on the electoral commission’s ability to manage voting, result transmission and other aspects of the electoral process ahead of the next nationwide elections.
Security agencies ordered to protect voters
Tinubu said he had directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs involved in the Osun election to provide maximum security at polling units.
“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,” he said.
He warned that security agencies must prevent individuals from disrupting the election or intimidating voters and electoral personnel.
“No room should be allowed for troublemakers to disrupt the process,” Tinubu said, adding that electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic responsibilities without fear.
President urges Osun voters to participate
The president also appealed to eligible voters in Osun State to turn out and vote for candidates of their choice, assuring them that measures had been put in place to safeguard the electoral process.
“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.
Tinubu stressed that the credibility of the election would depend on whether its outcome accurately reflected the choice of Osun voters.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” the president declared.
The Osun poll is being closely watched as one of Nigeria’s final major electoral tests before the 2027 general elections, with attention expected to focus on voter turnout, security, the conduct of polling and the credibility of the results.
