President Bola Tinubu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in Osun State.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 15 candidates contesting the governorship seat. The leading contenders include the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam.

In a statement, Tinubu also urged Osun residents to participate in the election and avoid actions capable of disrupting the voting process.

“As the people of Osun State head to the polling units to elect who will govern them in the next four years, I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure orderly conduct of the election. The election must be transparent, free and fair,” the President said.

Tinubu urged INEC to use the off-cycle election as an opportunity to demonstrate its preparedness for the 2027 general elections and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

“I have charged the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security outfits taking part in the election to provide maximum security at polling units. No room should be allowed for troublemakers to disrupt the process,” he said.

The President stressed that electoral officials and voters must be protected from intimidation, urging residents to vote for candidates of their choice without fear.

He assured the people of Osun that adequate security measures had been put in place before, during and after the election.

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