ABUJA — 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 institutions to influence the outcome of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku described the election as an important test of Nigeria’s democratic credentials, warning that the scale of security deployment could create the impression that a civilian electoral exercise was being treated as a military operation.
Speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, he said the conduct of the Osun election would provide an indication of the country’s preparedness to conduct credible elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents,” Atiku said.
He questioned the rationale behind what he described as a heavy deployment of security personnel for an election at a time when terrorists, kidnappers and bandits continue to attack communities across the country.
Atiku also warned INEC against actions that could disenfranchise voters or undermine the credibility of the election through technical failures, unexplained delays or non-transparent handling of results.
He demanded the timely distribution of electoral materials, unrestricted voting, transparent counting and credible 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 declared.
According to him, the outcome of the Osun election would attract both national and international scrutiny, urging all institutions involved to ensure that voters are allowed to freely determine their leaders.
“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,” Atiku said.
The ADC presidential candidate also revisited the controversy surrounding the Chicago State University certificate presented by President Bola Tinubu to INEC, calling for clarification of what he described as inconsistencies in documents associated with the certificate.
Atiku alleged that the certificate submitted to INEC carries the date June 22, 1979, while another document linked to Chicago State University records reportedly bears June 27, 1979. He also raised questions about alleged differences in the signatures and description of the degree contained in the documents.
He further questioned the appearance on documents dated 1979 of names or signatures attributed to university officials whose tenures allegedly began several years later.
Atiku asked whether replacement certificates were subsequently issued and, if so, who authorised their production.
Citing Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides for disqualification where a presidential candidate presents a forged certificate to INEC, he maintained that the specific document submitted to the electoral commission should be properly 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?” he asked.
He argued that the standards applied to ordinary Nigerians seeking employment should equally apply to anyone aspiring to occupy the country’s highest political office.
“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?” Atiku asked.
On youth participation in politics, Atiku pledged that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates under his political programme would be below the age of 40, with a significant proportion below 30.
He urged young Nigerians to channel their frustrations into organised political participation instead of limiting their engagement to social media.
“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation,” Atiku said, urging young Nigerians to move beyond online activism and become actively involved in determining the country’s political future.
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