Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has cautioned against the militarisation of the August 15 Osun governorship election, warning security agencies and state institutions against being used to secure partisan advantage.
Atiku spoke at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, where he described the election as a crucial test of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct credible polls ahead of the 2027 general election.
He expressed concern over the scale and posture of security deployment for the election, saying it appeared more appropriate for a military operation than a democratic exercise.
“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president questioned why comparable security capacity was not being deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits attacking communities and killing Nigerians.
He warned security agencies against intimidating opposition supporters or allowing state institutions to influence the outcome of the poll.
“The police belong to Nigeria. The military belongs to Nigeria. INEC belongs to the Nigerian people. None of them belongs to the APC,” he said.
Atiku also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that election materials are delivered on time and that voters are allowed to cast their ballots without obstruction.
He cautioned the commission against what he described as “mysterious glitches, unexplained delays or manipulation”, while calling for transparency in voter accreditation, ballot counting and the transmission of results.
“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.
Beyond the Osun election, Atiku pledged greater youth inclusion in politics under his political programme, saying at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates would be below 40, with a significant number below 30.
He urged young Nigerians to move beyond expressing frustration on social media and take active roles in the political process.
“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation. Your time is not tomorrow. Your time is now,” he added.
