Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has warned against the alleged use of security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to influence the outcome of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Atiku made the remarks on Wednesday at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, where he described the scale of security deployment ahead of the Osun poll as troubling and urged the Federal Government, security agencies and INEC to remain neutral.
“The police belong to Nigeria. The military belongs to Nigeria. INEC belongs to the Nigerian people. None of them belongs to the APC,” Atiku said.
He argued that elections should be treated as democratic and civil engagements rather than military operations, stressing that voters should not be made to feel like combatants.
“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents,” he said.
Atiku also questioned the scale of security deployment for the Osun election, asking why similar resources were not being deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits responsible for insecurity in parts of the country.
His comments come amid heightened security preparations for the August 15 election. INEC has confirmed that sensitive election materials have arrived in Osun, while more than 30,000 NYSC members are available for possible deployment as ad-hoc election personnel.
Security agencies have also announced significant deployments. The PUNCH reported that no fewer than 25,310 personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have been deployed for the election. The deployment includes 15,000 police officers, 10,210 NSCDC personnel and about 100 EFCC officers.
Armed military personnel have also taken up security duties at the Osun State headquarters of INEC in Osogbo, with armoured personnel carriers reportedly deployed around the facility.
Atiku urged INEC to ensure the prompt distribution of electoral materials, unhindered voting, transparent counting and credible transmission of results. He warned that the conduct of the Osun election could have implications for public confidence in the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the Osun election represents a test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the ability of state institutions to conduct a free, fair, peaceful and transparent election.
“If our institutions cannot conduct a free, fair, peaceful and transparent election in one state, Nigerians will legitimately ask what confidence they should have in the general election next year,” he said.
The August 15 Osun governorship election is expected to be closely contested, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam among the prominent contenders.
Atiku concluded his appeal by urging the electoral commission, security agencies and the Federal Government to allow voters to freely determine the outcome of the election.
“Let the people vote. Let every vote count. And let the will of the people prevail,” he said.
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