Tinubu Calls for Peaceful Osun Governorship Election, Orders Security Agencies to Protect Voters

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State, urging security agencies to protect voters and electoral officials during Saturday’s poll.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to hold on August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates contesting the election. Among the major contenders are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to 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,” Tinubu said.
The President urged INEC to use the Osun election as an opportunity 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 added.
Tinubu also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies deployed for the election to provide adequate security at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the process.
He stressed that electoral officials and voters must be protected from intimidation, urging residents to confidently exercise their civic rights.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu further called on voters to avoid actions capable of disrupting the election, assuring residents of their safety before, during and after the polls.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” he declared.