President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that today’s governorship election in Osun State is conducted peacefully, transparently and credibly.
The election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, with voters across the state expected to elect the governor who will lead Osun for the next term. The poll has attracted candidates from several political parties, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Folasayo Salaam.
In a statement ahead of the election, Tinubu called on INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the poll reflects the will of the people of Osun State.
He urged the commission to conduct the election in accordance with established electoral procedures while providing a level playing field for all participating candidates and political parties.
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies deployed for the election to provide adequate security at polling units and other critical locations.
He said voters and electoral officials must be protected from intimidation, threats and other acts capable of disrupting the exercise, stressing the need for citizens to participate without fear.
Tinubu further appealed to voters to exercise their civic responsibility peacefully and avoid any action that could undermine the conduct of the election.
The President described the Osun governorship poll as an important test ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging INEC to use the exercise to demonstrate its preparedness to conduct credible elections.
He also called on political actors and their supporters to respect the electoral process and allow voters to freely choose their preferred candidate.
The Osun governorship election is one of the off-cycle elections preceding the 2027 general elections. INEC had earlier released the final list of candidates for the poll, with Governor Adeleke contesting under the Accord Party, while Oyebamiji and Salaam are among the leading candidates in the race.
President Tinubu said the outcome of the election should ultimately reflect the freely expressed choice of the people of Osun State.
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