RismadarVoice Reporters
August 14, 2026
President Bola Tinubu has called for a peaceful, free and transparent governorship election in Osun State, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to protect voters and electoral officials.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates contesting the poll.
Among the leading contenders are the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke; the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam.
In a statement, President Tinubu urged residents of the state to turn out and exercise their constitutional right to vote while avoiding actions capable of disrupting 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 president said.
He charged INEC to ensure that the election was transparent, free and fair, stressing the need to protect 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,” Mr Tinubu said.
The president also directed the Inspector-General of Police and heads of other security agencies participating in the election to provide adequate security at polling units and other critical locations.
“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.
Mr Tinubu said electoral officials and voters must be protected from intimidation and other threats to enable them to discharge their civic responsibilities safely.
He urged voters to participate in the election without fear, assuring them that measures had been put in place to safeguard the electoral process.
“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,” he said.
The president stressed that the outcome of the election must reflect the wishes of the people of Osun State.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” he declared.
