Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the Federal Government against deploying state resources to unfairly favor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun governorship election.
Speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit, Atiku described the upcoming poll as a pivotal test of Nigeria’s democratic integrity, warning that an overwhelming security deployment risks framing a civil exercise like a military operation. Emphasizing the democratic nature of elections, he stressed.
“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents.”
He questioned the rationale behind mobilizing massive security capacity for an election while local communities continue to face persistent threats from terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers. Demanding timely distribution of materials, uninterrupted voting, accurate collation, and transparent transmission of results, he cautioned INEC against technical glitches, unexplainable delays, or administrative opacity that could disenfranchise voters. Reminding state institutions of their fundamental duty to the public, he declared.
“The police belong to Nigeria. The military belongs to Nigeria. INEC belongs to the Nigerian people. None of them belongs to the APC.” NigerianCulture Guides
He noted that the conduct of the Osun poll will serve as a key indicator of the nation’s readiness to deliver credible general elections, calling on all involved agencies to respect the popular will.
“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.”
In addition to addressing the election, the former vice president revisited the controversy regarding the Chicago State University certificate submitted to the electoral body by President Bola Tinubu. Citing reported inconsistencies in dates, signatures, and degree descriptions between documents bearing June 22, 1979, and June 27, 1979, he referenced Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution regarding candidate qualifications and urged full verification.
“Who produced the certificate Tinubu submitted to INEC? When was it produced? Who authorised it? Why does it differ from the other version, and does Chicago State University authenticate the exact document submitted to INEC?”
He argued that leadership requires the highest standards of transparency, maintaining that public office holders should not be exempt from the scrutiny expected of everyday citizens.
“If a young Nigerian would be required to explain such discrepancies before getting an ordinary job, why should the man seeking Nigeria’s highest job be exempt from the same standard?”
Turning to youth involvement in governance, Atiku pledged that under his political platform, at least 30 percent of legislative candidates would be under 40 years old, with a substantial portion under 30. He urged young citizens to translate online commentary into organized political structures:
“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation.”
He encouraged Nigerian youth to move beyond social media activism and actively participate in building the political frameworks necessary to shape the country’s future.