Tinubu Urges Peaceful Osun Governorship Election, Directs Security Agencies to Protect Voters, INEC Officials

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent, free and fair governorship election in Osun State scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The President also urged eligible voters across the state to come out and exercise their civic responsibility without fear, assuring them that adequate security measures had been put in place to protect voters and electoral officials before, during and after the poll.

Fifteen candidates are participating in the election, 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.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu charged INEC to ensure the orderly conduct and integrity of the electoral process.

“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,” the President said.

Tinubu described the Osun election as an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its preparedness for the 2027 general elections, urging the commission to use the off-cycle poll as a test case.

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

The President further disclosed that he had directed the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies involved in the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent troublemakers from disrupting the exercise.

“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,” Tinubu stated.

He specifically stressed the need to protect electoral officials and voters from intimidation, assuring citizens that they could participate in the election freely and safely.

“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation,” he said.

Tinubu also appealed to voters to come out in their numbers and vote for candidates of their choice, stressing that the outcome of the election must accurately reflect the wishes of the people of Osun State.

“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,” the President said.

“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.