By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has assured voters in Osun State of adequate security for Saturday’s governorship election, urging them to turn out and exercise their franchise freely and wisely.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday through the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who represented him at the All Progressives Congress governorship campaign rally in Osogbo.
The President said security agencies had been deployed across the state to ensure a peaceful election and protect voters at polling units.
“Adequate security has been provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
He urged voters to make informed choices, while expressing confidence that the APC would emerge victorious.
“Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice. My advice, however, is that you choose wisely,” the President said.
Tinubu also claimed that the crowd at the rally demonstrated growing support for the APC and its candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
“From the crowd here today, I am more than convinced that APC is the dominant party in Osun State,” he said.
Akpabio, who also addressed the rally, urged Oyebamiji to prioritise infrastructure and improve living conditions if elected.
He particularly criticised the state of roads linking Osun with neighbouring states.
“Osun deserves more than this. Osun should be better than what we have now,” Akpabio said.
Deputy President of the Senate and Secretary of the APC National Campaign Council for the election, Senator Jibrin Barau, also urged voters to support Oyebamiji, arguing that an APC victory would bring Osun into the national political mainstream.
“What is needed at this stage is to bring Osun State into the mainstream of Nigerian politics,” Barau said.
He, however, urged political actors to avoid violence and ensure that the election was conducted peacefully.
*Adeleke condemns killings, raids, demands ballot-box contest
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has condemned the killing of a resident in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area, and the destruction of property in the community.
One person was reportedly killed on Wednesday night, while another sustained gunshot injuries and was receiving treatment in hospital.
Adeleke directed security agencies to intensify surveillance in the area and investigate the incident.
The governor attributed the violence to political incitement and appealed to politicians and their supporters to avoid statements or actions capable of triggering further bloodshed.
“We all have families and friends. We should not preach violence,” Adeleke said.
He also alleged that more than 20 homes belonging to Accord Party members were raided in Ikire, with some residents allegedly arrested and properties vandalised.
“This is not politics again. I challenge our opponents to let us fight through the ballot,” Adeleke said.
He urged voters to resist attacks and counterattacks, insisting that political differences must be settled at the ballot box.
“Since we are practising democracy, we must allow our people to vote,” he said.
*Violence could trigger voter apathy, says Yiaga
Civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has warned that the tense political atmosphere could discourage voters from participating in Saturday’s election.
The Chairperson of its Osun Election Observation Mission, Dr Asmau Maikudi, raised the concern on Thursday at a pre-election press conference in Osogbo.
Maikudi said that although preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission appeared broadly on track, the credibility of the election would depend largely on the effective deployment of personnel, technology, and security arrangements on election day.
“Election-day credibility will depend on timely deployment, reliable technology, consistent application of the law and effective contingency planning,” she said.
She expressed concern over disruptions to Permanent Voter Card collection in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas, warning that limited access to electronic alternatives could leave some eligible voters disenfranchised.
“This increases the risk of voter disenfranchisement,” Maikudi said.
Yiaga Africa also cited an attack on a PVC collection centre, politically linked violence in Osogbo and disputes over motor parks as developments that had heightened security concerns.
The organisation warned that inflammatory political rhetoric could worsen the situation and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
“Such rhetoric could legitimise violence, deepen partisan hostility and undermine public confidence in the electoral process,” Maikudi said.
She called for impartial security deployment and prosecution of those responsible for electoral violence, threats and hate speech, regardless of their political status.
Yiaga Africa also identified voter inducement as another major threat, citing the distribution of money and gifts by political actors under the guise of social interventions.
Maikudi warned that a combination of violence, inflammatory rhetoric, technical challenges and distrust could suppress voter participation.
“Pre-election violence, inflammatory rhetoric and persistent distrust in the process could suppress voter participation on election day,” she said.
With the poll only hours away, the competing demands for peaceful participation, adequate security and a credible electoral process have placed Osun at the centre of national attention as voters prepare to choose their next governor.
