President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, free, fair and transparent governorship election in Osun State.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates in the race. Among the leading contenders are the 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 urged voters to come out and exercise their constitutional right while avoiding actions capable of disrupting the electoral process.
The President also assured the people of Osun State that adequate security measures had been put in place to protect them before, during and after the election.
“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.
He urged INEC to use the 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,” the President added.
Tinubu further disclosed that he had 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 process.
“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,” he said.
He stressed the need to protect both electoral officials and voters, saying they must be able to perform their civic responsibilities without fear or intimidation.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The President maintained that the credibility of the election remained paramount, insisting that the eventual result must reflect the wishes of the people of Osun State.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” he declared.
The statement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on August 14, 2026.
