With less than 48 hours to the Osun State governorship election, President Bola Tinubu has assured residents of adequate security, urging them to turn out en masse and exercise their franchise without fear of intimidation or harassment.
The President’s assurance was conveyed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress mega rally in Osogbo, where he rallied support for the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Akpabio, who represented Tinubu at the rally, said the President had directed the provision of adequate security measures to ensure that voters could participate freely in the election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
“On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, let me simply say hello to the good people of Osun State. The President has asked me to come and greet you. He said I should enjoin you to remain peaceful,” Akpabio said.
He added that the President had assured Osun residents that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to protect voters during the election.
“The President is saying that he has put enough security measures in place for the good people of Osun State to vote peacefully come Saturday, August 15, 2026. Nobody is going to be harassed,” he said.
According to Akpabio, the assurance was an indication of Tinubu’s commitment to democracy and democratic governance, noting that the President had spent a significant part of his life advocating for democratic rule.
“This is a pointer to the fact that he truly believes in democracy and democratic governance. This is a man who has spent two-thirds of his life fighting for democracy,” he said.
The Senate President said Tinubu would not allow any individual or group to undermine the democratic process or violate the rights of citizens.
“Today, God has placed him as the leader of this nation and the President, and he is not ready to allow any group of people to undermine democracy or molest any citizen,” Akpabio said.
He therefore urged the people of Osun to come out freely on Saturday and vote for candidates and political parties of their choice.
“So, to the good people of Osun State, feel free to go out and exercise your franchise on Saturday. Feel free to go out and vote for the candidate of your choice. Feel free to go out and ensure that you vote for the party of your choice,” he said.
Akpabio, however, urged voters to make what he described as a wise choice at the poll, while appealing to the electorate to support the APC candidate and align the state with the Federal Government.
He argued that having an APC government in Osun would strengthen the state’s relationship with the Federal Government and facilitate greater cooperation.
“There is a need for you to link Osun State with the centre. There is a need for you to link Osun State with what is happening in Nigeria. Over 30 governors are already in the APC. We are waiting for Osun State,” Akpabio said.
He asked the electorate whether they were ready to join the APC and vote for the party’s candidate, while reiterating the President’s assurance that voters would not be intimidated.
“Are you ready to join? Are you ready to vote? Are you coming? Please, don’t feel intimidated,” he said.
Akpabio also cautioned voters against allowing social media activities to influence their participation in the election, stressing that online campaigns and attacks were different from what would happen at the polling units.
“Social media is not the same thing as polling units. We are saying, go to the polling unit. You will not be molested. Even if you are being attacked on social media, I think you should exercise restraint,” he said.
The rally was attended by several APC leaders and governors, including the party’s pioneer national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; the APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Others at the rally included Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo; former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; and APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, among other party chieftains.
The APC rally came as political parties intensified their campaigns and mobilisation ahead of Saturday’s election, which is expected to determine the next governor of Osun State.
