Imole Campaign Council, the political mobilisation team of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, on Friday demanded a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state, urging the Federal Government, security agencies and the international community to ensure that the August 15 poll reflects the will of the people.
The ICC also disclosed that it had petitioned the British High Commission over the political situation in the state and written to the Inspector-General of Police over alleged security concerns, insisting that the election would serve as a major test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, while addressing newsmen in Abuja, said the credibility of the Osun governorship election would have far-reaching implications for the country’s electoral process.
According to him, “We have written to the British High Commission on the current political situation in Osun State. I believe you all are aware that on the 15th of August, 2026, the people of Osun will proceed to vote in the coming state governorship election.
“It is important for the entire world to know that the coming election is important to Nigeria and the world. This poll is a major test of the integrity of INEC, the Inspector General of Police, and our institutions 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.”
According to Olajengbesi, the ICC has also engaged with the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability during the election.
He said, “Today, 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. We’re also playing a major role in monitoring the state election, and we know that the choice of the people will be determined.
“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.
“Our goal is to ensure that all stakeholders in this election, the INEC, the Nigerian police and security agencies ensure they play their role fairly in a neutral sense so that there can be a credible election that the entire world can be proud of.”
Also speaking, a representative of the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers, Olufemi Franklin, said the Osun governorship election would be a litmus test for the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He urged all stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the process.
Franklin said, “Today, we are here to reinforce the fact that the government’s social contract and the upcoming election in Osun State are a litmus test that must test the credibility and integrity of the stakeholders in the election. We’re talking about the chairman of INEC and the Inspector General of Police. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the people are not robbed of their choice of governor.
“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.
“So we are here today to remind all stakeholders, including the Inspector General of Police, to rise to their responsibilities. We are also asking the INEC to be impartial and independent in the true sense of it. We must ensure that government serves the interests of the people for the greater good.”
Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, with political parties intensifying campaigns ahead of the poll.
The election is widely regarded as one of the key off-cycle governorship contests expected to test the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies before the 2027 general elections.
