— Warns against repeat of political violence in old Western Region By Steve Oko President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to ensure a level playing field in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, with political analyst, Dr Chris Akinfosile (FNISM), warning that any attempt to manipulate the poll could damage Nigeria’s democratic credibility. Akinfosile also invoked the history of political violence in the old Western Region, cautioning that electoral manipulation and political impunity could create grievances capable of escalating beyond the immediate contest. In a commentary titled, “The Osun Tinderbox: As Davido Threatens Trump’s Intervention, President Tinubu Must Shun Election Rigging and Save Nigeria’s Fragile Democracy,” Akinfosile said the President should regard the election as an opportunity to demonstrate that his administration placed national stability above partisan interests. His comments followed a declaration by music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, that he would seek the intervention of United States President Donald Trump if he believed the Osun election was rigged. Akinfosile said Davido’s position had added an international dimension to an election already generating political tension. He, however, said the more important issue was whether Nigeria’s electoral institutions would be allowed to conduct a credible election without political interference. According to him, “there is no patriotic argument for rigging an election in a democracy already precariously balanced on a knife edge.” He urged Tinubu to direct security agencies to maintain neutrality, protect voters and electoral materials, and ensure that anyone found attempting to use state power or political thugs to influence the outcome was prosecuted. Akinfosile also challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to demonstrate institutional independence and ensure that every legitimate vote counted. He said the President had shown, through his recent intervention in the controversy surrounding the freezing of the Osun State Government’s account, that he could rise above partisan considerations when national interest demanded it. Tinubu had directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to take steps to vacate the court order freezing the state government’s account and subsequently spoke with Governor Ademola Adeleke on the matter. Akinfosile said the gesture should be followed by an equally clear commitment to electoral neutrality. He warned that a disputed election in Osun could have consequences beyond the state, particularly amid the country’s existing security, economic and political challenges. “Let the people choose. Let their will stand,” he said, stressing that no political victory was worth the instability that could follow a disputed mandate. Akinfosile urged Tinubu to publicly assure all contestants that the Federal Government would neither manipulate the election nor tolerate the use of security agencies to intimidate voters. He also called for effective monitoring of the election by domestic and international observers and urged political parties to commit themselves to peaceful conduct before, during and after the poll. According to him, a free and credible election in Osun would provide the Tinubu administration with an opportunity to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and send a positive signal to investors and the international community. He said the President’s handling of the election could ultimately become an important part of his political legacy. “Tinubu can choose to be remembered as the President who placed nation over party, stability over power and posterity over expediency,” Akinfosile said. The post Osun Election: Akinfosile urges Tinubu to ensure credible election appeared first on Vanguard News.
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