The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the Bola Tinubu’s administration should not militarise the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 15 or deploy state institutions for partisan advantage, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, warned on Wednesday.
He also made mockery of Tinubu for not disclosing some of his academic credentials his certificates to INEC in the 2027 election, alleging that questions are also raised about the signatures and other discrepancies on the certificates he provided.
The former Vice President who spoke at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, declared that “Osun is a test” of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct credible elections ahead of the next general election.
Atiku said, “I have come to offer you a partnership to change the country for the better. What I saw in Osun State is a war zone. They have militarily taken over the State. Why would they not deploy such security to fight Boko Haram and bandits?
“Let me warn INEC, security agencies on Osun election: What we are seeing in Osun is scary. It’s as if Nigeria is preparing for war. 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. Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents.”
He said the scale and posture of security deployment around the election resembled preparations for war rather than a civil democratic exercise.
The elder statesman questioned why such overwhelming security capacity was not being deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits killing Nigerians and attacking communities.
Atiku warned INEC against “mysterious glitches, unexplained delays or manipulation,” demanding timely arrival of materials, unhindered voting, honest counting and transparent transmission of results.
“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 raised fresh questions over the Chicago State University certificate President Bola Tinubu submitted to INEC, arguing that reported discrepancies in the document deserve explanation.
He said the certificate submitted to INEC reportedly bears June 22, 1979, while another produced in connection with CSU records bears June 27, 1979, with reported differences in signatures and description of the degree.
Atiku also questioned why names or signatures associated with university officials whose tenures came years after 1979 reportedly appear on documents bearing that date, asking whether they were subsequently produced replacement certificates and, if so, who authorised them.
He invoked Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides for disqualification where a presidential candidate has presented a forged certificate to INEC, stressing that the exact document submitted to INEC should therefore be authenticated.
“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?”, Atiku asked.
“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?”
On youth inclusion, Atiku pledged that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates under his political programme would be below 40, with a significant number below 30.
Charging young Nigerians to “Register. Organise. Lead,” Atiku urged them to transform frustration into political participation.
“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation. Your time is not tomorrow. Your time is now”, he said.
Friday Olokor
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