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•Tinubu demands credible election •Police deploy drones •Adeleke vows probe into killings
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Idu Jude (Abuja) and Lateef Dada (Osogbo)
Tension heightened across Osun State on Friday as 15 candidates prepared for today’s governorship election amid concerns over pre-election violence.
This came as President Bola Tinubu charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to pro tect voters and ensure a credible poll.
The Nigeria Police Force has also deployed air and drone units, tightened security across the state and announced restrictions on vehicular movement. But Governor Ademola Adeleke pledged to probe election-related killings.
Also, civil society groups, political organisations and the state House of Assembly also raised concerns over alleged intimidation, violence and other threats to the integrity of the election.
Protect osun voters, ensure credible election – tinubu
President Tinubu, apart from charging INEC and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State, also warned that voters and electoral officials must be protected from intimidation.
He gave the charge on the eve of Saturday’s governorship election, in which 15 candidates are vying for the governorship of the state.
Among the leading contenders are the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke; the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju 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 INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the election meets the required standards of transparency and fairness.
“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 further described today’s poll as an important opportunity for the electoral commission 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.
“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,” he said.
The President also appealed to Osun residents to turn out in large numbers and vote for candidates of their choice. He assured them that adequate security measures had been put in place before, during and after the election.
“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.
Tinubu urged all stakeholders and voters to shun acts capable of undermining the electoral process, stressing that the ultimate outcome must reflect the choice of the electorate.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” the President declared.
Police deploy air, drone units
The Nigeria Police Force also assured residents of Osun of adequate security ahead of today’s governorship election.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Edem Iniedu, gave the assurance while addressing a news conference on Friday in Osogbo. He said the police had deployed personnel across the state to ensure a peaceful and credible poll.
He added that air and drone units had also been deployed to the state and had commenced surveillance patrols.
The police spokesperson said a unit of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) had been deployed in each of the 30 local government areas, with operations coordinated by commissioners and deputy commissioners of police.
He explained that two units of armed PMF personnel had been deployed in the INEC office to assist with the movement of electoral materials and other critical operations.
Iniedu further stated that seven Special Protection Units personnel would be responsible for the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials as well as the protection of electoral officers.
“At the command, we have two units of armed mobile force personnel for quick response.
“We also have pockets of armed patrols around the town at various checkpoints,” he said. The police spokesman said the force was working closely with other security agencies to protect the lives of citizens, electoral officers and electoral materials throughout the period of the election.
He added that the police had put in place administrative and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the personnel complied with electoral laws and conducted themselves professionally
Iniedu disclosed that a 24-hour call centre had been established to receive complaints of professional misconduct against police officers and other law enforcement personnel during the election.
He said that complaints received would be investigated and appropriate sanctions imposed on any officer found culpable of violating electoral laws. He further disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, had directed that each polling unit in the state be manned by four police officers, alongside personnel from other security agencies. The police spokesman urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that adequate security arrangements had been put in place across the state. He also announced that vehicular movement would be restricted across the state from midnight on Friday to Saturday as part of measures to ensure a peaceful election.
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Iniedu urged parents and guardians to ensure that underage children and unregistered voters stayed away from polling units, stressing that the police would not tolerate underage voting or any form of electoral misconduct.
He also warned against vote buying, describing it as an electoral malpractice that would not be tolerated during the election.
According to him, the inspector-general of police has directed that anyone caught buying or selling votes will be arrested and prosecuted immediately. He urged all stakeholders and residents of the state to comply with electoral laws and cooperate with security agencies to ensure a peaceful and orderly governorship election.
Gov adeleke vows to probe election killings
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, announced plans to constitute a panel of inquiry to investigate the killings linked to the governorship election in the state.
In a statement signed by the governor and read to journalists on Friday by the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, Adeleke expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of individuals who tragically lost their lives during the period of electoral violence.
“Every life lost is an Osun life. Politics should never cost anyone his or her life, irrespective of political affiliation.
“The government under my watch wishes to assure the people of Osun State that next week Monday, immediately after the election, an Independent Commission of Inquiry will be constituted to investigate all reported killings and acts of violence connected with this election period.
“The election will come and go, but we will remain one people. We owe the dead justice, their families compassion, and the people of Osun a peaceful future,” Adeleke added.
Electoral hub raises concern over 73 violent incidents
The Electoral Hub raised concerns over the security situation ahead of the election. It cited 73 election-related violent incidents that resulted in 29 deaths, and urged the INEC and other stakeholders to take urgent measures to protect voters and ensure a peaceful process.
According to an official statement signed by the Director, Princess Hamman-Obels, the incidents raised concerns ahead of today’s election, with Osogbo identified as particularly affected and several other local government areas requiring heightened security attention. The Electoral Hub said the reported violence should not discourage citizens from participating in the democratic process, but should instead compel political actors, security agencies, the INEC, community leaders and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to eliminate violence, intimidation and fear from the electoral process. The organisation stressed that voters must be able to leave their homes, reach their polling units, cast their ballots and return safely. It urged security agencies to remain neutral, professional and non-partisan.
Pyrates confraternity demands credible poll
The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity (NASPC), also called on President Tinubu, the INEC, security agencies, and political parties to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
In a statement titled: ‘The Votes Must Count in Osun Governorship Election’, and signed by Dr. Charles Meribole, the group urged Tinubu to rise above partisan interests as a true statesman and guarantee a level playing field for all candidates.
“He bears the greatest responsibility to ensure the protection of the electorate in Osun and dismantle every notion of the deployment of ‘Federal Might’ to suppress the will of the people,” the statement read.
Criticising the wave of pre-election violence, Meribole noted that the weaponisation of state institutions, harassment of political opponents, voter intimidation, and electoral inducement undermine democracy and breed anarchy.
He stressed that democracy cannot thrive under such conditions, but can only survive when citizens are free to exercise their franchise without fear.
The association also challenged INEC to use the Osun polls to restore public confidence in its capacity to conduct credible elections.
Addressing security forces, Dr. Meribole implored them to remain strictly apolitical and avoid militarising the state in a way that could frighten eligible voters away.
“Osun State has seen enough bloodshed. The cycle of election-related violence must end. The people deserve a free and fair process, and their votes must count,” he added.
Assembly speaker seeks international scrutiny
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, appealed to the international community and relevant authorities to pay close attention to today’s governorship poll. He cited growing concerns over alleged intimidation and attacks on citizens.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Friday, the Speaker expressed deep concern over reports of harassment in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
“Let me state clearly: I cannot be intimidated for demanding that the truth be established. If anyone has committed an offence, let that person face the law,” Egbedun asserted.
He called on the Federal Government, the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to immediately investigate the allegations.
He implored civil society organisations, election observers, diplomatic missions, and international human rights bodies to closely monitor developments in Osun State.
Ijesaland becomes flashpoint
Although the three major contestants in today’s governorship poll hail from the Osun West senatorial district, serious security concerns have emerged in the Osun East senatorial district, particularly across the Ijesaland, following a wave of killings, which characterised the zone.
The district reportedly recorded the highest number of killings during electioneering. Security agencies are expected to step up their deployment and focus heavily on the zone.
Meanwhile, ahead of today’s poll, travellers trooped into the state to beat the deadline for border closures.
Police authorities had announced that state borders would be shut at midnight on Friday, with personnel from the Nigerian Army deployed to man all entry points.
