Tinubu Urges Peaceful Osun Election, Says Every Vote Must Count

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on residents of Osun State to participate peacefully in Saturday’s governorship election, urging all stakeholders to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

In a statement ahead of the August 15 poll, Tinubu called on political parties, security agencies, electoral officials and voters to play their part in ensuring a peaceful, transparent, free and fair election.

The President said he had directed the Inspector-General of Police and the heads of security agencies deployed to Osun to ensure the safety of voters, electoral officials and election materials throughout the election.

He stressed that no Nigerian should be prevented from exercising their constitutional right to vote because of fear, intimidation or violence.

“Every citizen must be able to exercise his or her right to vote without fear, intimidation or violence. There must be no room for anyone seeking to disrupt the process or undermine the peace of Osun State,” Tinubu said.

The President also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election professionally and with integrity, stressing the importance of ensuring that every lawful vote is properly recorded.

“Every vote must count. Every lawful vote must be properly recorded,” he said.

Tinubu described the Osun governorship election as the final off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections, saying it provides INEC with another opportunity to demonstrate its preparedness and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

The President appealed directly to Osun residents to come out and exercise their civic responsibility peacefully, while respecting the choices of other voters.

He reminded voters that elections should be about ideas and service rather than violence.

“Elections are contests of ideas and service, and should never cost the life of any Nigerian,” he said.

Tinubu said the Federal Government had put measures in place to support a peaceful election and reiterated that the responsibility of government was to protect both the electoral process and the people.

He maintained that the ultimate decision belongs to the people of Osun State and urged all political actors to respect the outcome of the election, regardless of which candidate emerges victorious.

“Whatever that decision may be, it must be respected,” the President said.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, with voters expected to choose the governor who will lead the state for the next four years.