Osun Guber: Adeleke’s campaign petitions Intl. community, IGP, others

Ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for 15th August, the Imole Campaign Council, the mobilisation arm of the State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has petitioned the international community and the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, stressing that the people need a conducive environment to vote for a candidate of their choice. Addressing a […]

Ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for 15th August, the Imole Campaign Council, the mobilisation arm of the State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has petitioned the international community and the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, stressing that the people need a conducive environment to vote for a candidate of their choice.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Spokesman of the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said the conduct of the Osun governorship election will determine how the international community will view the coming 2027 general elections.

He said what the people are calling for is a conducive environment for a free, fair and credible election, urging the Federal Government and the international community to ensure that the election reflects the will of the people.

The campaign Council said it had written to the Inspector-General of Police over the prevailing security concerns, the alleged partisanship of the police in Osun, alleging that they police in the state has been compromised.

Olajengbesi said, “We have written to the British High Commission on the current political situation in Osun State. It is important for the entire world to know that the coming election is important to Nigeria. This poll is a major test of the integrity of INEC.

“The Inspector General of Police, and our institutions need to know if we are prepared enough to conduct a free, fair, and credible election in the 2027 general election.

“We are using this opportunity to call on international communities and the Federal Government to ensure that the election in Osun State is free and fair. The people of Osun State must be allowed to go to the polls and vote for a candidate of their choice.”

He noted that after “submitting our complaint at the British High Commission, I also have the opportunity to have a serious engagement and meeting with the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers, they are also playing a major role in monitoring the state election.

“Recently, we wrote a complaint to the Inspector General of Police. People are being killed in the state, and the police in Osun State are doing nothing about it. That is why we are calling on international organisations, observers and civil society organisations to be vigilant and ensure that there is a free, fair and credible election.”

Also speaking, the representative of the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers, Olufemi Franklin, said the election would be a litmus test for what is to come in 2027.

“The people are the ones who are the employers of government. So we must ensure that the people are given a safe space to come out and vote, and exercise their franchise. Nigeria is no longer a baby democracy. This election is going to show us how and what we expect in the next general election, the 2027 general election,” he said.