OSOGBO — President Bola Tinubu has assured residents of Osun State of adequate security during and after Saturday’s governorship election, urging voters to turn out and exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally held in Osogbo, the state capital, where the party formally presented its candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, to supporters ahead of the election.
The President, who was represented at the rally by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said security measures had been put in place across the state to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process.
He urged eligible voters to feel free to cast their ballots for candidates of their choice, while encouraging them to make what he described as a wise decision in the election.
“Let me assure all Osun indigenes that adequate security has been provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation,” Tinubu said.
He added, “Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice. My advice, however, is that you choose wisely because there is a need to link Osun State to the centre. We are waiting for Osun to join us.”
The President further assured voters that they would be protected from harassment during the election.
“I can assure you that nobody will molest you. You can only be molested on social media and not during voting,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the President, Akpabio said the large turnout at the campaign rally demonstrated what he described as the growing support enjoyed by the APC in Osun State.
The Senate President said the presence of prominent political figures, including former Osun State governor and interim National Chairman of the APC, Pa Bisi Akande; former National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore; and Senator Fadahunsi, further demonstrated the party’s strength ahead of the election.
“From the crowd here today, I am more than convinced that APC is the dominant party in Osun State,” Akpabio said.
He also acknowledged politicians from opposition parties who, according to him, had declared support for the APC governorship candidate.
Akpabio particularly thanked former Osun State governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and other opposition figures for their reported support for Oyebamiji.
“Let me, on behalf of Mr President, thank the opposition parties in the state led by former governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for queuing behind our candidate,” he said.
According to him, the development was evidence of the APC’s commitment to peaceful politics, adding that the leadership of the Accord Party in the state had also endorsed the party’s governorship candidate.
Akpabio also expressed concern over the state of infrastructure in Osun, particularly the road linking Ibadan with the state.
“On a personal note, I am not impressed by the condition of roads from Ibadan to this state. Osun deserves more than this. Osun should be better than what we have now,” he said.
He charged the APC candidate, whom he referred to by the acronym “AMBO”, to make infrastructure development and the delivery of democratic dividends key priorities if elected governor.
“Let me at this point charge our incoming governor, AMBO, to ensure that he transforms Osun State through the provision of quality infrastructure and delivery of true dividends of democracy from his very first day in office,” Akpabio said.
Other speakers at the rally delivered goodwill messages and called on APC supporters and residents across the state to vote for Oyebamiji in Saturday’s governorship election.
The election is expected to determine the next governor of Osun State, with political parties intensifying their mobilisation and campaigns ahead of the poll.
