Politics
Peter Obi urges INEC, security agencies to protect Osun voters
FORMER Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2027 poll, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political actors to ensure that the August 15 Osun State governorship election is conducted peacefully, transparently and without intimidation.
Obi, in a statement released on Thursday, urged all stakeholders to place the interests of Osun residents above partisan considerations, saying the state belongs to its people and they must be allowed to freely determine who governs them.
“Osun belongs to its people. Therefore, I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties, candidates, government institutions, civil society organisations, religious and traditional leaders, the media, and every stakeholder to act with the highest degree of neutrality, professionalism, and restraint,” he said.
Obi specifically appealed to INEC to safeguard the credibility of the poll from accreditation and voting through collation and declaration, insisting that every legitimate vote must count and that results must reflect the genuine choice of voters.
“The people of Osun must be allowed to vote freely, safely, and without intimidation. Their votes must be counted transparently, protected faithfully, and announced according to the genuine will of the electorate…Nigeria is watching. Africa is watching. The world is watching,” he added.
He also called on security agencies to remain neutral, stressing that their allegiance should be to Nigeria and the Constitution rather than to any political party or candidate.
He called on the state residents to reject violence and avoid allowing political differences to divide communities ahead of the poll.
“To those within Osun State, I appeal for peace. Do not allow politicians to turn your neighbours, friends, and communities against each other. Do not destroy your state in the name of winning an election. Nigeria is bigger than any candidate, and Osun is greater than any political party,” he stated.
He argued that the real test of democracy is not simply determining a winner but ensuring that citizens have a genuine opportunity to make their choice.
Obi urged political actors outside Osun, including politicians, influencers and financiers, to exercise restraint and avoid encouraging violence or intimidation in the state.
The former governor further appealed to international observers and diplomatic missions to maintain close attention on the election, arguing that their presence and independent observation could strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Obi’s statement comes amid heightened concerns over electoral violence and other threats surrounding the Osun poll.
INEC said it had intensified security and violence-prevention preparations ahead of the election, as the commission’s Electoral Institute conducted training under its Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool to strengthen early-warning mechanisms for identifying and reporting threats before, during and after the election.
The ICIR reported that at least 73 election-related violent incidents were recorded in the State between October 2025 and July 2026, with 78 per cent occurring between May and July as tensions heightened ahead of the election.
INEC has separately expressed concern over vote buying ahead of the exercise and urged journalists to investigate and document suspected cases to assist law enforcement agencies in prosecuting offenders.
The contest is shaping up as a major political battle, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking another term and former state finance commissioner Bola Oyebamiji representing the All Progressives Congress (APC).
INEC’s published candidate list initially featured 14 political parties, but announced the addition of Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot on Wednesday.
The contest has also attracted significant political attention because Osun has been a closely fought electoral battleground.
Adeleke defeated the incumbent APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, in the 2022 governorship election, and subsequent litigation over the results eventually ended affirming Adeleke as the governor.Osun
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.
