Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has warned against the alleged use of state institutions to influence the outcome of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku described the election as a major test of Nigeria’s democratic credentials, saying its conduct would determine whether the country is prepared to deliver credible and transparent elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja.
The former vice president urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the Federal Government to remain neutral and ensure that voters are allowed to freely choose their preferred candidates.
“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 deployment of what he described as overwhelming security personnel for the election, particularly at a time when terrorists, kidnappers and bandits continue to attack communities across the country.
Atiku also cautioned INEC against actions that could undermine the credibility of the election, including delays in the distribution of electoral materials, technical problems and opaque result-management processes.
He called for the timely arrival of election materials, unhindered voting, accurate counting and transparent 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.
According to Atiku, the Osun election would attract significant attention from both Nigerians and the international community, stressing that all institutions involved must respect the will of the electorate.
“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 Controversy
Atiku also revisited the controversy surrounding the certificate President Bola Tinubu submitted to INEC, questioning what he described as discrepancies in documents associated with his Chicago State University credentials.
He alleged that the certificate submitted to INEC carries a date of June 22, 1979, while another document linked to Chicago State University records reportedly bears June 27, 1979.
The ADC candidate further raised questions about alleged differences in signatures and the description of the degree contained in the documents.
He also questioned why some documents reportedly dated 1979 appeared to contain the names or signatures of university officials whose tenures allegedly began several years later.
Atiku asked whether replacement certificates were subsequently issued and, if so, who authorised their issuance.
His comments come as political parties intensify preparations for the Osun governorship election, which is expected to be closely watched as an indication of the country’s electoral environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
