ABUJA — Political analyst, Dr Chris Akinfosile (FNISM), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure a level playing field for all contestants in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, warning that any attempt to manipulate the poll could further weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Akinfosile said the election presented the Federal Government with an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles by allowing voters to freely choose their preferred candidate without intimidation, political interference or abuse of state institutions.
He also drew attention to the history of political violence in the old Western Region, cautioning that electoral manipulation, political impunity and disputed election outcomes could generate grievances with consequences extending beyond the immediate contest.
In a commentary titled, “The Osun Tinderbox: As Davido Threatens Trump’s Intervention, President Tinubu Must Shun Election Rigging and Save Nigeria’s Fragile Democracy,” Akinfosile said Tinubu should treat the election as a test of his administration’s commitment to national stability and democratic credibility.
His comments followed a declaration by music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, that he would seek the intervention of United States President Donald Trump if he believed the Osun governorship election had been manipulated.
Akinfosile said Davido’s statement had introduced an international dimension to an election that was already attracting considerable political attention.
He, however, maintained that the central concern should be whether Nigeria’s electoral institutions would be allowed to conduct the election independently and transparently.
“There is no patriotic argument for rigging an election in a democracy already precariously balanced on a knife edge,” he said.
The analyst urged President Tinubu to direct security agencies involved in the election to remain neutral, protect voters and safeguard electoral materials before, during and after voting.
He also called for the prosecution of individuals found attempting to deploy political thugs, state resources or security personnel to influence the outcome of the election.
Akinfosile further challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to demonstrate institutional independence by ensuring that every legitimate vote cast by Osun residents is properly counted and reflected in the final result.
He said the President had recently demonstrated that he could rise above partisan considerations in the interest of national stability, citing his intervention in the controversy surrounding the freezing of the Osun State Government’s account.
Tinubu had directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take steps towards vacating the court order freezing the state government’s account and subsequently spoke with Governor Ademola Adeleke on the matter.
According to Akinfosile, that intervention should be matched by an equally clear commitment to electoral neutrality.
He warned that a disputed governorship election in Osun could have implications beyond the state, particularly given the country’s existing security, economic and political challenges.
“Let the people choose. Let their will stand,” he said, stressing that no political victory would be worth the instability that could arise from a disputed electoral mandate.
Akinfosile called on Tinubu to publicly assure all candidates and political parties that the Federal Government would neither manipulate the election nor permit security agencies to be used to intimidate voters.
He also urged domestic and international observers to closely monitor the election and called on political parties and their supporters to commit themselves to peaceful conduct before, during and after the poll.
The analyst said a free, fair and credible election in Osun would provide the Tinubu administration with an opportunity to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He added that a transparent election would also send a positive signal to investors and the international community about Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance and political stability.
Akinfosile said the President’s handling of the Osun election could ultimately become an important part of his political legacy.
“Tinubu can choose to be remembered as the President who placed nation over party, stability over power and posterity over expediency,” he said.
