Osun governorship: Adeleke campaign group begs international observers to monitor polls

Ahead of the Osun state governorship elections, the Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign body of Governor Ademola Adeleke, has appealed to the United Kingdom, international observer missions, and civil society organisations to closely monitor the polls to ensure free, fair, and credible polls.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday after submitting a petition to the British High Commission, the spokesperson for the council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that the Nigeria Police Force in Osun state had become compromised.

He noted that the Osun governorship election was not only significant to the people of the state, but also to the country’s democratic credentials.

Olajengbesi said the campaign council had submitted what he described as a “second petition” to the British High Commission to express concerns over the conduct of security agencies in the state, particularly the police.

He said, “The coming election in Osun state is important to Nigeria and the entire world. It is a major test of the integrity of INEC, a major test of the integrity of the Inspector-General of Police and, beyond that, a major test of the integrity of our institutions to know if we are prepared enough to conduct free, fair and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We are very concerned because the police in Osun state are completely compromised. The current Commissioner of Police is acting in a partisan manner and working for a political party. This should not be happening in a country that prides itself as a democracy.”

Olajengbesi appealed to the federal government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and international observers to ensure that voters were allowed to freely elect candidates of their choice without intimidation or interference.

“We are using this opportunity to call on the international community and the Federal Government of Nigeria 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 the candidate of their choice,” he said.