Tinubu Charges INEC, Security Agencies To Ensure Peaceful, Credible Osun Governorship Election

President Bola Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State.

The people of Osun State will head to the polls today, Saturday, August 15, 2026, to elect their governor, with 15 candidates contesting the election.

Among the leading contenders are the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged eligible voters to come out and exercise their civic responsibility peacefully, while assuring them of adequate security before, during and after the election.

The President said the election provides an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its preparedness to conduct credible, free and fair elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also directed the Inspector-General of Police and heads of other security agencies deployed for the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent hoodlums and other troublemakers from disrupting the electoral process.

Tinubu stressed the need to protect electoral officials and voters, noting that they must be allowed to perform their civic responsibilities without fear, intimidation or harassment.

He assured Nigerians that adequate security and logistical measures had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful election and urged eligible voters to come out in large numbers to vote for candidates of their choice.

The President said: “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.

“INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians their full preparedness for the 2027 polls.

“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.

“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties 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.

“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people.”