President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State, directing security agencies to ensure the safety of voters and electoral officials during Saturday’s poll.

The President made the call in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

Fifteen candidates are contesting the election, including the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam.

Tinubu urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the election is conducted in a transparent, free and fair manner, describing the poll as an opportunity for the electoral body to demonstrate its preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

“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.

He added that the Osun election should serve as a test of INEC’s readiness for the 2027 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 said.

The President also directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies deployed for the election to provide maximum security at polling units and prevent individuals from disrupting the electoral process.

“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 said.

He stressed that electoral officials and voters must be adequately protected from intimidation and violence, urging residents to come out and exercise their constitutional right to vote.

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

Tinubu assured the people of Osun State that necessary security measures had been put in place to guarantee their safety before, during and after the election.

The President urged voters to vote for candidates of their choice and avoid any action capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the poll.

“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 further stressed the importance of credible elections, declaring that the outcome of the Osun governorship election must reflect the wishes 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.