OSOGBO — Political activities have reached their climax in Osun State as voters prepare to decide who will occupy the state’s governorship seat, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, among the leading contenders.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured stakeholders that the governorship election will be conducted in a manner that is free, fair, transparent and credible.
According to the commission, sensitive electoral materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, have arrived in Osogbo for onward distribution to polling locations across the state.
INEC explained that the materials were reprinted after a court ruling required the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate on the ballot. The development increased the number of participating political parties to 15.
The election will be conducted in 332 wards spread across Osun State’s 30 Local Government Areas.
INEC said 1,906,390 voters are eligible to participate in the poll after collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The figure represents 81.5 per cent of the 2,339,233 registered voters in the state.
The commission said 432,843 PVCs, representing 18.5 per cent of the registered voters, remained uncollected and had been transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria in accordance with established procedures.
It further disclosed that 6,101 voters who requested replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs successfully printed downloadable versions of their cards.
The parties taking part in the election are Accord, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, Action Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, All Progressives Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressive Party and Zenith Labour Party.
Tinubu Calls for Peaceful Poll
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to candidates, political parties, voters, security personnel and electoral officials to work toward a peaceful and credible election.
The President, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the APC campaign rally in Osogbo, urged Osun voters to support Oyebamiji, saying an APC administration would benefit from closer cooperation with the Federal Government.
Tinubu also cautioned political actors against violence, intimidation and harassment, while assuring residents that security arrangements had been strengthened ahead of the poll.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who chairs the APC National Campaign Committee, similarly encouraged voters to participate peacefully.
Other APC leaders, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, also campaigned for the party’s candidate.
Oyebamiji thanked party leaders and supporters for their backing and pledged that, if elected, his administration would promote inclusive governance and equitable development throughout the state.
Adeleke Raises Electoral Concerns
While the APC intensified its campaign, Governor Adeleke expressed concerns about alleged irregularities involving electoral personnel and sensitive election materials.
The Imole Campaign Organisation, supporting the governor, alleged the presence of unauthorised electoral officials as well as the deployment of ballot papers and result sheets it described as improperly customised.
The organisation called on security agencies and other relevant authorities to investigate the claims and take steps to protect the credibility of the electoral process.
Security Tightened Across Osun
Security agencies have also stepped up operations in Osun State, particularly around Osogbo, ahead of the election.
The police warned that individuals who attempt to cause violence, disrupt voting or violate public order would face arrest and prosecution.
The heightened security measures come amid concerns over incidents recorded during the campaign period. The police had confirmed the death of a nephew of Wole Oke, a member of the House of Representatives and Director-General of the APC campaign organisation, in Esa-Oke.
Political divisions have also become more pronounced, with former Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola withdrawing his backing for Adeleke and declaring support for Oyebamiji.
Oyinlola reportedly cited concerns about Adeleke’s style of leadership and the distribution of development projects across the state.
With INEC personnel, security agencies, observers and political party representatives positioned across the state, the focus has now shifted from campaigning to voting.
The immediate expectation is that the electoral process will proceed peacefully and that the final outcome will accurately reflect the choice of Osun voters.
