Peter Obi Sends Strong Message To INEC, World Over Osun Election

Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on all stakeholders involved in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to ensure that the poll is peaceful, transparent and credible.

According to Ireporter Online, Obi made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday ahead of the August 15 election, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to demonstrate neutrality, professionalism and restraint.

The former governor stressed that residents of Osun State must be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to vote without intimidation, harassment or violence.

Obi urged voters to reject attempts by politicians to provoke conflict, warning that political ambitions should not be allowed to destroy relationships and communities across the state.

He also appealed to politicians, supporters, influencers and financiers from outside Osun to avoid actions capable of undermining the peace and credibility of the election.

According to him, security agencies must remain loyal to Nigeria and the Constitution rather than political parties or individuals, while ensuring that every voter receives equal protection.

Obi further charged INEC to maintain the integrity of the electoral process from the preparatory stages through accreditation, voting, collation and declaration of results. He insisted that irregularities must be properly addressed and every legitimate vote allowed to count.

The NDC presidential candidate also called on the international community, diplomatic missions and election observers to closely monitor the election, arguing that their presence and impartial assessment could strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

He maintained that democracy should not be judged solely by who emerges victorious but by whether citizens are genuinely allowed to freely choose their leaders.

Obi urged political actors to demonstrate that electoral contests could be fiercely contested without violence, hatred or intimidation, stressing that political power should be determined through ballots rather than bloodshed.

He called on all stakeholders to protect voters, respect legitimate electoral outcomes and place the peace and interests of Osun State above partisan ambitions.