Tinubu Tasks INEC, Political Actors, Security Agencies on Peaceful, Credible in Osun, Ekiti Gov’ship Polls

By George OPARA

President Bola Tinubu, Friday tasked the Nigeria’s electoral umpire, security agencies, and political actors to play by the rules in the upcoming gubernatorial polls in Osun and Ekiti states.

The President gave the directive during his nationwide broadcast in remembrance of the Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day.

He further reminded all democratic actors that democracy could become endangered when citizens lose trust in electoral institutions and doubts the credibility of the election process.

In retrospect, the president moved into the trajectory of Nigeria’s 27 uninterrupted years of civilian rule since the country’s return to democracy in 1999, he explained that the strength of any democratic system lies not only in periodic elections but in public confidence that electoral outcomes truly reflect the will of the people.

The president, warned, “In the coming days, Ekiti and Osun States will hold elections. I urge INEC, security agencies, and all parties to ensure these polls are peaceful and credible. Democracy fails when citizens doubt the process”.

But his remarks followed the growing political activities in the countdown to the governorship elections, with political watchers calling for electoral compliance and safeguards to curb violence, voter intimidation, and disputes capable of undermining confidence in the process.

The president, however, in his Democracy Day address, reflected on Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that the country has now sustained its longest uninterrupted stretch of civilian governance since independence.

Tinubu recalled that since the restoration of democracy on May 29, 1999, Nigerians have consistently demonstrated commitment to constitutional governance by electing leaders through the ballot box, managing political disagreements through lawful institutions, and sustaining peaceful transfers of power.

“Today, we celebrate democracy and the enduring Nigerian spirit. For 27 unbroken years since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers — not through violence,” he said.