Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the Federal Government against using state institutions to influence the outcome of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.
Atiku described the election as an important test of Nigeria’s democratic credentials, warning that the heavy security deployment around the poll could make a civil democratic exercise appear like a military operation.
Speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, he said the conduct of the Osun election would send a strong signal about Nigeria’s preparedness to conduct credible elections ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents,” Atiku said.
He questioned the scale of security deployment for the election, particularly at a time when terrorists, kidnappers and bandits continue to attack communities and kill Nigerians.
‘Police, Military and INEC Belong to Nigerians’
Atiku also cautioned INEC against actions that could frustrate voters or undermine the credibility of the electoral process, including technical failures, unexplained delays and opaque handling of results.
He demanded the timely distribution of electoral materials, unhindered voting, transparent counting and credible transmission of results.
“The police belong to Nigeria. The military belongs to Nigeria. INEC belongs to the Nigerian people. None of them belongs to the APC,” he declared.
The ADC presidential candidate urged all institutions involved in the election to remain neutral and allow Osun voters to freely determine their next governor.
“The world is watching Osun. Nigerians are watching. History is taking notes. Let the people vote. Let every vote count. And let the will of the people prevail,” he said.
Atiku Raises Tinubu Certificate Questions
Atiku also revisited the controversy surrounding the certificate President Bola Tinubu submitted to INEC, calling for clarification over what he described as discrepancies in documents linked to the certificate.
He pointed to differences in dates, signatures and the description of the degree in documents reportedly associated with Chicago State University.
Atiku questioned the appearance of names or signatures allegedly linked to university officials whose tenures reportedly began years after the documents were dated.
“Who produced the certificate Tinubu submitted to INEC? When was it produced? Who authorised it? Why does it differ from the other version, and does Chicago State University authenticate the exact document submitted to INEC?” he asked.
He also cited Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides for disqualification where a presidential candidate has presented a forged certificate to INEC, arguing that the exact document submitted to the electoral commission should be authenticated.
Atiku Promises Greater Youth Representation
Speaking on youth participation in politics, Atiku pledged that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates under his political programme would be below the age of 40, with a significant number below 30.
He urged young Nigerians to move beyond social media activism and become actively involved in political organisation and participation.
“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation,” Atiku said.
