By Emmanuel Oloniruha

President Bola Tinubu has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to ensure a peaceful and transparent election in Osun.

Tinubu in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja on Friday also charged the electorate in Osun to come out to discharge their civic responsibility.

He charged them to eschew any act that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election, while assuring the people of their safety before and after the polls.

“As the people of Osun head to the polling units to elect who will govern them in the next four years, I call on INEC 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,”  the president said.

Tinubu noted that he had charged the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies taking part in the election to provide maximum security at polling units, saying 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.

“Our elections must be credible, and the outcome of the Osun Governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” President Tinubu declared.

Fifteen candidates including the incumbent, Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Accord party, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress candidate, and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress candidate, are contesting the election.