Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has appealed to Nigerians, security agencies, political actors, and the international community to ensure that the upcoming election in Osun State is conducted peacefully, credibly, and in line with the wishes of the electorate.
Obi, in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, candidates, government institutions, civil society organisations, religious and traditional leaders, and the media to act with neutrality, professionalism, and restraint as the state goes to the polls.
He said the people of Osun must be allowed to vote freely and safely, without intimidation, and that their votes must be counted transparently and announced according to the genuine will of the electorate.
Obi appealed to residents of the state to embrace peace and resist attempts by politicians to turn communities against one another, stressing that no election was worth destroying the state over.
He also urged politicians, supporters, financiers, influencers from outside Osun to exercise restraint and avoid importing violence or desperation into the process.
On the role of security agencies, Obi insisted that their loyalty must be to Nigeria and the Constitution rather than to any political party, adding that their duty was to protect every vote equally.
He also charged INEC to safeguard the credibility of the election from the preparatory stages through accreditation, voting, collation, and declaration, and to ensure that every irregularity is addressed and every legitimate vote is counted.
Obi further called on diplomatic missions and international election observers to closely monitor the Osun poll, saying their vigilance and principled observation could help bolster confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He described democracy as being less about who wins and more about whether the people are truly allowed to choose, expressing hope that Osun would show that political competition can be intense without degenerating into violence.
Obi concluded by stating that Nigeria, Africa and the world would be watching the conduct of the election and urged all stakeholders to ensure the process remains free, fair and credible.
