Osun election must be free, fair - President Tinubu charges INEC ahead of Saturday poll

President Tinubu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible governorship election in Osun State scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates contesting the governorship seat. Among the candidates are the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam. In a statement issued on Friday and signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu urged INEC to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and provide a transparent and orderly election. 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, Tinubu said. He urged INEC to use the election as an opportunity to demonstrate its preparedness for the 2027 general elections. 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 also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies deployed for the election to ensure adequate protection for voters and electoral officials. 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. Tinubu further stressed the need to protect voters and electoral officials from intimidation, urging residents to participate in the election without fear. Electoral officials and voters must be protected so they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation he said  The post Osun election must be free, fair - President Tinubu charges INEC ahead of Saturday poll appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.