As voters in Osun State go to the polls today, August 15, 2026, President Bola Tinubu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to deliver a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election.
With 15 candidates in the race—including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
Also the African Democratic Congress candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam—the election offers Osun voters a crucial opportunity to determine the state’s political direction for the next four years.
The President’s message is clear: the credibility of the election must be protected at every stage.
INEC must ensure that polling arrangements are orderly, electoral procedures are properly followed and the integrity of the ballot is preserved.
While the security agencies, in turn, must protect voters and election officials to preventing intimidation, violence and other acts capable of undermining the process.
Tinubu has also described the Osun poll as a test of INEC’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
That places a greater responsibility on the commission to demonstrate competence, impartiality and respect for the will of the electorate.
Any failure to safeguard the process would deepen public distrust; a credible election would strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
For the people of Osun, the appeal is equally direct. Voters should come out peacefully, exercise their constitutional right and support the candidate of their choice without fear or provocation.
Political actors must accept that the ballot—not violence, coercion or manipulation—should determine the outcome.
Today, Osun is not merely choosing a governor. It is also testing the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy.
The security of voters, the independence of the electoral process and credibility of the final result must therefore remain non-negotiable while the outcome should reflect the freely expressed will of the people.
