- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies to ensure a orderly and transparent election in Osun State.
Tinubu also charged the electorate in Osun State to come out to discharge their civic responsibility.
He urged them to desist from any act that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election, while assuring the people of their safety before and after the polls.
Tinubu gave the charge in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Infrormation and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
As quoted in the statement by Onanuga, the president charged INEC to ensure that the election is transparent, free and fair.
“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,
“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.
Tinubu thereafter charged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and heads of other security outfits partaking in the election to provide maximum security at polling unit.
He held that voters should feel confident to go out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice.
“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.
“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.” Tinubu said.
The president harped on the need for the Osun election to be credible.
“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” Tinubu added.