Blessing Bello, Reporting
OSOGBO — Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state, warning that the people would not accept any attempt to rig the August 15 poll.
Addressing supporters at a campaign rally in Osogbo on Monday, Adeleke alleged that political violence and insecurity were threatening the electoral process and appealed to the President to intervene and ensure the safety of residents and the integrity of the election.
“President Bola Tinubu, something is happening in Osun that you haven’t intervened in. They are killing our people. You are the president, you are the father for all of us,” Adeleke said.
Warning Against History Repeating
The governor invoked the memory of the controversial 1983 election that ousted Chief Bola Ige as governor of the old Oyo State, warning that Osun would not allow a repeat of what he described as electoral manipulation.
“Osun has said they won’t allow rigging. There won’t be rigging in Osun. Remember what happened in 1983. It started in Yorubaland. When they cheated Bola Ige and Ajasin. Osun will not agree. We want free and fair election,” Adeleke declared.
Chief Bola Ige’s 1983 re-election bid ended in one of the most controversial elections of Nigeria’s Second Republic. He had been elected governor in 1979 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria but lost to Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo of the National Party of Nigeria in an election widely believed to have been manipulated by the federal establishment.
The controversy, alongside the even more violent dispute in Ondo State, helped destroy public confidence in the Second Republic and provided part of the justification subsequently advanced by the military for the December 1983 coup.
Direct Appeal to President
Adeleke, who is seeking re-election as the candidate of the Accord Party , appealed directly to President Tinubu, whom he noted had endorsed his party’s presidential candidacy.
“President Tinubu, I’m passing this message to you. We have endorsed you, why are they killing us?” the governor asked.
“Don’t let what happened in 1983 repeat in Osun. Accord party has endorsed you as our presidential candidate, why are we suffering? Oyetola needs to be called to order”.
Adeleke also reminded the President of his role in Nigeria’s democratic struggle, saying: “President Tinubu, you worked for this democracy, don’t let Oyetola destroy everything. He is the one that spoiled APC in Osun. He is fighting everybody”.
Political Violence Concerns
The governor’s warning comes amid rising political tensions ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with reports of election-related violence and killings in the state.
The Accord Party has separately called on the African Union, United Nations, European Union, United States and British governments to intervene in the security situation, alleging a pattern of political violence, arrests and intimidation capable of undermining the poll.
The party alleged that politically motivated attacks had increased since campaigns began, claiming that Accord members and leaders, officials of the Osun State Government and relatives of the governor had been targeted, resulting in deaths and injuries, including the killing of a 14-year-old boy.
INEC Declares Readiness
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has declared itself ready for the August 15 governorship election following a five-day assessment of its preparations and a statewide mock accreditation exercise.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the commission was prepared to conduct a credible poll, assuring voters that the electoral body would not allow violence, intimidation or other forms of interference to undermine the electoral process.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, with INEC expected to deploy election personnel and materials across the state’s 3,763 polling units.
Adeleke urged residents to turn out en masse on election day, vote for candidates of their choice and protect the integrity of their votes.
“We will come out en masse, vote and defend our votes,” he said .
