President Bola Tinubu has assured residents of Osun State that adequate security arrangements have been put in place to guarantee a peaceful, free and credible governorship election on Saturday, urging voters to come out and cast their ballots without fear of intimidation or harassment.
The President gave the assurance through Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign held in Osogbo on Thursday. The rally drew several APC governors, National Assembly leaders, party chieftains and thousands of supporters from across the state.
Tinubu appealed to political parties, candidates and supporters to reject violence, intimidation and harassment before, during and after the election and to embrace peace as a democratic responsibility.
“Let me assure all Osun indigenes that adequate security has been provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation,” the President said through Akpabio.
He added that nobody would be molested at polling units and encouraged residents to choose their preferred candidates peacefully and wisely.
“Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice. My advice, however, is that you choose wisely because there is need to link Osun State to the centre. We are waiting for Osun to join us.
“I can assure you that nobody will molest you. You can only be molested on social media and not during voting. Nobody will harass or intimidate one another. Go out and vote a party of your choice and choose wisely,” he said.
Akpabio said President Tinubu fought for democracy and would not allow anyone to undermine democratic institutions.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fought for democracy; therefore, he will not allow anybody to molest the already established democracy,” the Senate President said.
Akpabio formally presented the APC flag to the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, describing it as a symbol of authority and responsibility.
“This is your symbol of authority and power,” he told the candidate.
The Senate President also conveyed Tinubu’s confidence that the APC would win Saturday’s election, saying the large turnout at the rally demonstrated the party’s growing popularity in Osun State.
“From the crowd here today, I am more than convinced that APC is the dominant party in Osun State,” he said.
Akpabio cited the presence of former governor and former APC Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore and other senior party figures as evidence of the party’s strength ahead of the poll.
He also thanked opposition politicians and groups that had declared support for Oyebamiji, including former governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and leaders of the Accord Party, describing the development as proof that the APC remained a broad-based political platform capable of accommodating people across party lines.
Beyond the election, Akpabio challenged Oyebamiji to prioritise infrastructure development and improve living conditions in the state if elected.
“On a personal note, I am not impressed by the condition of roads from Ibadan to this state. Osun deserves more than this,” he said.
He urged the APC candidate to begin transforming the state immediately after assuming office and to deliver tangible dividends of democracy from his first day in office.
Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, also urged voters to support the APC candidate, arguing that Oyebamiji’s closeness to President Tinubu would attract greater federal presence and development projects to Osun State.
Oyebamiji thanked the APC National Working Committee for its support and promised an inclusive administration focused on governance and development.
“Government is a serious business, and if elected my administration will be inclusive and people-oriented,” he said.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma told voters that the APC was not a party of violence, intimidation or disorder but one founded on democratic values and development-oriented policies.
In a significant political development, former Accord Party presidential candidate Professor Chris Imumolen announced support for Oyebamiji and said Accord Party members and supporters would vote for the APC candidate in Saturday’s election.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke condemned the recent killings in Esa Oke and the destruction of property linked to political violence in the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Adeleke expressed sympathy to the families of those killed and injured and directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and operations in Esa Oke and surrounding communities.
The governor described the violence as an unfortunate consequence of reckless political incitement and urged political leaders across Osun State to avoid inflammatory statements capable of provoking unrest.
He also called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks and appealed to residents to remain peaceful.
As part of efforts to secure the election, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu announced a ban on state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties.
In a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer CSP Anietie Iniedu, the police said the prohibition was in line with established Nigeria Police Force election-security directives.
Disu also prohibited armed escorts, security aides and unauthorised persons from accompanying politicians to polling units and collation centres.
He warned that ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and other electoral offences would attract immediate arrest and prosecution.
The Inspector-General further announced the deployment of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ishyaku Mohammed to coordinate security operations across Osun State during the election, supported by senior police officers across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Police authorities said adequate arrangements had been made to protect voters, Independent National Electoral Commission officials, election materials, observers and journalists before, during and after the poll.
The campaign rally was attended by several APC governors and senior party leaders, including governors from Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Imo, Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi and Yobe states, as well as Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, former Osun governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Lagos Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat and former Edo governor Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
With campaigns now concluded, attention has shifted to Saturday’s governorship election, which security agencies, political parties and observers say must be conducted peacefully, credibly and in accordance with democratic principles.
The competing appeals from President Tinubu for peaceful participation and Governor Adeleke against political violence have underscored the high stakes of the election and the importance of maintaining calm across Osun State as voters prepare to choose their next governor.
