President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that the forthcoming Osun State governorship election is conducted in a free, fair and credible manner. The President’s call comes as preparations intensify ahead of Saturday’s poll, with political parties, candidates, election officials and security agencies making final arrangements for voting across the state. Tinubu stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that eligible voters can exercise their rights without intimidation or unnecessary interference. His directive places additional attention on INEC as the commission completes the deployment of personnel and sensitive materials to local government areas and polling locations. The election is expected to be closely contested, with major political parties seeking to secure the support of voters across Osun’s communities. A transparent process will be important in strengthening public confidence in the eventual outcome and reducing disputes after the results are announced. Security agencies are also expected to play a major role by protecting voters, election officials, observers and electoral materials before, during and after voting. Political parties and their supporters have been urged to conduct themselves peacefully and respect the rules guiding the election. The President’s appeal also comes amid concerns about voter intimidation, electoral violence and other practices that could undermine the credibility of the poll. INEC is expected to ensure that polling officials follow established procedures and that votes are properly counted and transmitted in accordance with electoral regulations. Civil society organisations, observers and other stakeholders will also be monitoring the process closely. For voters, the emphasis remains on turning out peacefully, following instructions from electoral officials and exercising their constitutional rights. The outcome of the Osun election will depend on the votes cast by residents and the credibility of the process through which those votes are recorded and counted. As Saturday approaches, stakeholders are expected to work together to ensure that the election reflects the genuine choice of the people of Osun State.
