President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and heads of security agencies to guarantee a credible, free, and fair governorship election in Osun State, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. The directive was conveyed in a statement released on Friday, August 14, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Fifteen Candidates Contesting Osun Governorship Seat
The Osun governorship election will feature 15 candidates, including 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. The election is being closely watched as a test of INEC's preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
President Tinubu called on INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, emphasizing that the Osun poll should serve as a measure of the commission's readiness for larger contests ahead. He stated, "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."
President's Charge to INEC and Security Agencies
Tinubu further stressed that INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians their full preparedness for the 2027 polls. On security, he revealed that he had personally spoken to the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs involved in the exercise, insisting that troublemakers must not be allowed to interfere with 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.
Voters Urged to Participate Without Fear
The President also urged Osun residents to turn out in large numbers and cast their votes without fear, assuring that all necessary measures to protect voters and electoral officials had already been put in place. "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 declared.
He concluded by insisting that the outcome of the election must genuinely reflect the wishes of the Osun electorate, saying, "Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people."
Davido Acknowledges Peter Obi's Statement
Earlier, music star Davido publicly acknowledged Peter Obi's statement calling for a free and fair governorship election in Osun State, ahead of Saturday's poll. The Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate took to X on Thursday, August 13, to urge INEC, security agencies, political parties, and other key stakeholders to guarantee a credible electoral process in the state.
The Osun governorship election is set to proceed as planned, with all eyes on the state as a precursor to the 2027 general elections.
