Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has commended residents for their massive turnout at Saturday's governorship election, while urging security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain vigilant as the collation of results begins.
Adeleke, who is also the Accord Party's governorship candidate, shared his message via his official X account on Saturday, emphasizing that the welfare of voters was his primary concern.
Governor Praises Voter Turnout and Calls for Vigilance
"Against all odds, the people of Osun State have turned out in large numbers and are speaking with one voice. The safety and protection of our people is paramount," Adeleke wrote.
The governor directed his message specifically at security personnel deployed across the state, asking them to maintain their guard as votes move from polling units to ward level and then to local government areas.
"I commend the security agencies deployed for this election and urge them to remain vigilant as we move into the collation of results; from polling units to wards to local government areas," Adeleke said.
INEC Urged to Uphold Integrity
Adeleke also placed responsibility on INEC to protect the integrity of the process, saying the commission must uphold the highest standards throughout.
"I also call on INEC to uphold the highest standards of integrity throughout this process," he added.
He expressed confidence in the professionalism of the institutions overseeing the election and noted that adequate security had been put in place ahead of the exercise.
Appeal for Peace and Democratic Integrity
Adeleke tied the strength of democracy to respecting the choices made by voters at the polls. "Democracy is at its strongest when we honour the wishes of our people and protect the sanctity of their votes," he said.
He closed his message with a direct appeal to residents across the state to keep the peace as the collation process continues.
"To every Osun citizen: I urge you to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and committed to this democratic moment. Let the people's will prevail," Adeleke said.
Previous Concerns Over BIVAS Malfunctions
Legit.ng earlier reported that Adeleke raised serious concerns about the conduct of Saturday's governorship election, alleging that vote accreditation machines were failing at several polling units and that thugs were harassing voters in parts of the state.
Speaking on Osun Radio during the exercise, Adeleke said complaints had been reaching him about Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) machines operating below standard at multiple locations, causing significant delays for voters who had turned out to cast their ballots.
