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 on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The President also urged voters across the state to turn out in large numbers to exercise their constitutional right, assuring them that adequate security measures had been put in place to protect voters and electoral officials before, during and after the poll.
Fifteen candidates are contesting the election, with the major contenders including the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
In a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu charged INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the election is conducted in an orderly, free and fair manner.
“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 election as an important opportunity for the electoral commission to demonstrate its readiness 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.
The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs deployed for the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the exercise.
“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 that electoral officials and voters must be able to perform their duties without intimidation or fear.
“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” he added.
Tinubu consequently appealed to Osun voters to come out and vote for candidates of their choice, assuring them that measures had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful 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 stressed that the credibility of the election would ultimately depend on whether its outcome accurately reflects 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,” Tinubu declared.
