President Bola Tinubu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to demonstrate its readiness for the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu made the call in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stressing the need for the poll to be conducted transparently and without compromising the electoral process.
“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 described the Osun poll as the final off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections, urging the electoral body to use it to prove its ability to organise credible 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.
Tinubu also charged security agencies deployed for the election to ensure 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,” the President said.
He stressed that voters and election officials must be able to carry out their responsibilities without intimidation or fear.
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“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
The President further encouraged eligible residents to come out and exercise their franchise, assuring them that adequate security arrangements had been made.
“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 added that the credibility of the election would be determined by whether the final result accurately represented the choice of voters.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” he added.
The election is being contested by several candidates, including Ademola Adeleke of Accord, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).