Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

By Samuel Ike, Abuja

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the Federal Government against using state institutions to influence the outcome of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, Atiku described the election as a crucial test of Nigeria’s democratic integrity. He expressed concern over the heavy deployment of security personnel, warning that the scale of security operations could create the impression of a military exercise rather than a civilian electoral process. According to him, elections should remain peaceful democratic engagements and not be conducted in an atmosphere of intimidation.

The former vice president questioned why significant security resources were being concentrated on the election while many parts of the country continue to grapple with terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. He also urged INEC to ensure a transparent process by preventing technical failures, delays in the distribution of electoral materials, and any actions that could undermine public confidence in the election.

Atiku stressed the need for the timely arrival of voting materials, unhindered participation by eligible voters, transparent vote counting, and credible transmission of results. He maintained that national institutions such as the police, the military, and INEC belong to all Nigerians and should not be perceived as serving the interests of any political party.

He further noted that both Nigerians and the international community would closely monitor the conduct of the Osun election. According to him, the poll offers an opportunity for democratic institutions to demonstrate their commitment to fairness and credibility ahead of future national elections. He urged all stakeholders to respect the will of the electorate and ensure that every valid vote counts.

Beyond the Osun election, Atiku revisited questions surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, calling for clarification of alleged discrepancies in documents linked to the qualification. He also pledged greater youth inclusion in politics, promising that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates under his political programme would be under the age of 40. He encouraged young Nigerians to move beyond social media activism and become actively involved in political organisation and leadership.