Abuja-based lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi has described the upcoming Osun State governorship election as a crucial test of Osun election integrity, saying the conduct of the poll will reflect the preparedness of Nigeria’s electoral and security institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections. The governorship election is scheduled for August 15, and Olajengbesi urged the Federal Government to ensure the process is free, fair and credible.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Olajengbesi disclosed that he had written to members of the international community, including the British High Commission, requesting close monitoring of pre-election activities in Osun State. According to him, the petition highlighted allegations of partisan conduct involving the state’s police leadership, which he claimed could undermine the credibility of the election.
He alleged that the Osun State Commissioner of Police was acting in a partisan manner, stressing that such conduct had no place in a democratic society. Olajengbesi maintained that the people of Osun must be allowed to freely choose their preferred candidate without intimidation or interference.
The lawyer argued that the governorship election represents more than a state contest, describing it as a major assessment of the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector General of Police, and other democratic institutions.
He said the outcome and conduct of the election would provide a clear indication of Nigeria’s readiness to organise transparent elections in 2027. According to him, the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers has been monitoring political developments across the state in the lead-up to the election.
Olajengbesi also expressed concern over recurring incidents of violence allegedly linked to political thugs, urging election observers and security agencies to remain vigilant throughout the electoral process. He said he had previously warned the police against shielding individuals involved in politically motivated violence and insisted that voters should be able to exercise their rights without fear.
The lawyer recalled submitting a petition to Tunji Disu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where he raised concerns over increasing election-related violence ahead of the governorship poll.
He noted that reported killings, injuries, destruction of property and widespread fear among residents pose serious threats to democratic governance and the credibility of the election. Olajengbesi accused the Osun State Police Command of failing to respond adequately to repeated reports of violence and called for the immediate redeployment of the state’s Commissioner of Police.
He further urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all documented incidents of political violence, identify and prosecute those responsible regardless of political affiliation, and deploy additional tactical and conventional police personnel to identified flashpoints across Osun State. According to him, strengthening the state’s security architecture before the election is essential to protecting Osun election integrity and safeguarding public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
