Abuja-based legal practitioner Pelumi Olajengbesi has described the forthcoming Osun governorship election as a crucial test of Nigeria’s electoral institutions, saying the outcome will reflect the country’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the Osun-born lawyer said the August 15 governorship poll would serve as a measure of the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force and other institutions responsible for conducting democratic elections.
Olajengbesi disclosed that he had formally petitioned members of the international community, including the British High Commission, urging closer monitoring of pre-election activities in Osun State.
According to him, the petition highlighted allegations of partisan conduct by the state’s police leadership, claiming that the Commissioner of Police had failed to maintain political neutrality. He argued that the people of Osun should be allowed to elect a governor freely without intimidation or undue interference from security agencies.
The lawyer maintained that the Osun governorship election would provide an early indication of what Nigerians should expect during the 2027 general elections.
He said the poll represents a significant test of the integrity of INEC, the Inspector General of Police and other democratic institutions responsible for safeguarding free and fair elections. Olajengbesi stressed that public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process depends on the ability of authorities to conduct a transparent and credible governorship election in the state.
According to the lawyer, the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers has been closely monitoring political developments in Osun ahead of the election. He expressed concern over the reported increase in politically motivated violence, allegedly carried out by political thugs, and called on election observers to remain vigilant throughout the electoral process.
Olajengbesi noted that he had earlier submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, drawing attention to what he described as a growing pattern of election-related violence in the state.
The legal practitioner warned that the reported killings, destruction of property, injuries to residents and widespread fear in several communities pose a serious threat to democratic governance and the credibility of the election.
He accused the Osun State Police Command of failing to respond adequately to repeated reports of political violence and called for the immediate redeployment of the state’s Commissioner of Police. Olajengbesi also urged security authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into every documented incident of election-related violence, identify and prosecute all individuals involved, regardless of political affiliation.
In addition, he called for the deployment of more tactical and conventional police personnel to identified flashpoints across Osun State, alongside a comprehensive review of the state’s security architecture before voters head to the polls. He maintained that ensuring a peaceful and credible Osun governorship election is essential to strengthening public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
