The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a free, peaceful and credible governorship election in Osun State.
Obi made the appeal in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship poll.
The former governor of Anambra state also urged all political actors and stakeholders to prioritise the interests of the people and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
He called on INEC, security agencies, political parties, candidates, government institutions, civil society organisations, religious and traditional leaders, the media, election observers and other stakeholders to maintain neutrality, professionalism and restraint before, during and after the election.
According to him, the people of Osun must be allowed to vote freely and safely without intimidation, while their votes must be transparently counted, protected and announced in accordance with their genuine wishes.
“Osun belongs to its people,” Obi said, stressing that the state should not be subjected to violence or political intimidation in the pursuit of electoral victory.
He also appealed to residents of the state not to allow political differences to create divisions among neighbours, friends and communities.
“Do not allow politicians to turn your neighbours, friends, and communities against each other. Do not destroy your state in the name of winning an election. Nigeria is bigger than any candidate, and Osun is greater than any political party,” he said.
Obi equally cautioned politicians, supporters, influencers and financiers outside Osun against importing violence, intimidation or desperation into the state.
He particularly charged security agencies to remain apolitical, insisting that their loyalty should be to Nigeria and the Constitution rather than any political party or individual.
“To our security agencies, your loyalty must be to Nigeria and the Constitution, not to any political party or individual. Your duty is to protect every voter equally,” he said.
The NDC presidential candidate also tasked INEC with ensuring that the credibility of the election was protected throughout the entire electoral process, from preparation and accreditation to voting, collation and declaration.
He said any irregularity discovered during the process must be treated seriously, while every legitimate vote should be allowed to count.
Obi further called on the international community, diplomatic missions and election observers to closely monitor the election, saying their presence and vigilance could strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Democracy is not merely about who wins. Democracy is about whether the people are truly allowed to choose,” he said.
He urged political actors to demonstrate that electoral competition could be intense without descending into violence, stressing that political power should change hands through ballots rather than bloodshed.
“Let every vote count. Let every voter be protected. Let every legitimate result be respected. And above all, let peace reign in Osun State,” Obi said.
The August 15 Osun governorship election is being contested by candidates of 15 political parties.
Among the major contenders are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam.
The NDC, under which Obi is preparing to contest the 2027 presidential election, does not have a governorship candidate in the Osun poll.
Obi urged Nigerians and the international community to pay close attention to the election, declaring: “Nigeria is watching. Africa is watching. The world is watching.”
He said Osun had an opportunity to demonstrate that Nigeria could conduct a democratic contest where voters’ choices were respected and political disagreements did not translate into violence.