The leading candidates in Osun State governorship election have expressed confidence in victory, while stressing that the outcome must be free, fair, transparent and credible for it to be accepted.
Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salam and Social Democratic Party candidate Dr Francis Ajala, said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies must provide a level playing field and protect voters from intimidation.
Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesman for the Imole Campaign Council, said the governor and his supporters were not contemplating defeat.
“Adeleke, our candidate, can’t be defeated. No one can defeat Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun State today. So, we don’t even contemplate defeat,” he said.
Olajengbesi said the party would accept the will of the people but expected security agencies to provide a neutral environment and INEC to remain transparent throughout the electoral process.
“One factor that will make us regard this election as credible is for the security agencies to provide a neutral, level playing field and for INEC to be transparent in its dealings throughout the electoral process. We are not anticipating any defeat. We will win,” he said.
He urged Adeleke’s supporters to turn out in large numbers, vote peacefully and remain calm throughout the election.
Osun State APC Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, dismissed the possibility of defeat for Oyebamiji, saying the party was confident of victory.
“We cannot lose the election. The reward for hard work is success, which is expected of our governorship candidate, Asiwaju Muniru Oyebamiji,” Olabisi said.
He accused Adeleke of spending much of his tenure travelling abroad under the guise of seeking foreign investors, while describing Oyebamiji as a serious and well-prepared candidate.
On the circumstances that could lead the APC to reject the election result, Olabisi said the party had confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct a credible poll.
“We are confident in INEC’s ability to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended,” he said.
He said strict adherence to the Electoral Act would determine whether the election was free, fair, credible and inclusive.
Olabisi, however, said the APC would pursue appropriate legal channels if the outcome of the election required a challenge.
“We are not pessimists in our party, and we expect our candidate to win the election clearly. However, I agree that legal channels are part of the acceptable processes for the governorship election and could be used if necessary,” he said.
The ADC also expressed confidence in its candidate, with the party’s spokesman, Mr Oluwaseun Abosede, saying Salaami would emerge victorious.
Abosede, however, raised concerns over INEC’s preparations, alleging that the commission had failed to issue accreditation permits to some of the party’s polling agents.
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He said the party’s acceptance of the result would depend largely on the conduct of INEC, security agencies, and the state and federal governments.
“What INEC does, what security agencies do, what the state and federal governments do will determine our acceptance of the outcome of the election. Let’s wait till then,” Abosede said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has assured residents of adequate security during the governorship election, with air and drone units deployed across the state for surveillance.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Edem Iniedu, gave the assurance at a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital, saying personnel had been deployed across the state to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
Iniedu said a unit of the Police Mobile Force had been deployed to each of the 30 local government areas, with operations coordinated by commissioners and deputy commissioners of police.
He added that two units of armed PMF personnel had been deployed to the INEC office to assist with the movement of electoral materials and other critical operations.
According to him, seven Special Protection Units personnel would oversee the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials and protect electoral officers.
“At the command, we have two units of armed mobile force personnel for quick response. We also have pockets of armed patrols around the town at various checkpoints,” he said.
Iniedu said the police were working with other security agencies to protect residents, electoral officers and materials throughout the election period.
He added that administrative and oversight mechanisms had been put in place to ensure that police officers complied with electoral laws and conducted themselves professionally.
The police spokesperson also disclosed that a 24-hour call centre had been established to receive complaints of professional misconduct by police officers and other law enforcement personnel during the election.
He said such complaints would be investigated and officers found culpable of violating electoral laws would face appropriate sanctions.
Iniedu further disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, had directed that each polling unit in the state be manned by four police officers, alongside personnel from other security agencies.
He urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that adequate security measures had been put in place across the state.
He also announced restrictions on vehicular movement across the state from midnight on Friday until Saturday as part of measures to ensure a peaceful election.
Iniedu urged parents and guardians to keep underage children and unregistered voters away from polling stations, stressing that the police would not tolerate underage voting or other forms of electoral misconduct.
He also warned against vote-buying, saying the Inspector-General of Police had directed that anyone caught buying or selling votes would be arrested and prosecuted immediately.
He urged all stakeholders and residents to comply with electoral laws and cooperate with security agencies to ensure a peaceful and orderly governorship election.
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