Key Takeaways
- He questions the scale and posture of security deployment around the election
- Atiku raises fresh questions over President Bola Tinubu's Chicago State University certificate
- He pledges at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates under his programme would be below 40
Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the Tinubu administration against militarising the Osun governorship election or deploying state institutions for partisan advantage.
Speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, Atiku declared that “Osun is a test” of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct credible elections ahead of the next general election. He said the scale and posture of security deployment around the election resembled preparations for war rather than a civil democratic exercise.
Atiku emphasised that “Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents.” He questioned why such overwhelming security capacity was not being deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits killing Nigerians and attacking communities.
Certificate Discrepancies
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 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. He asked, “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?”
Youth Inclusion
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. He said, “Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation. Your time is not tomorrow. Your time is now.”
Why This Matters
The Osun governorship election is a critical test of Nigeria’s democratic process, and Atiku’s warnings against election manipulation and his emphasis on youth inclusion underscore the need for free and fair elections and meaningful political participation. As the country heads towards the next general election, the outcome of the Osun election will have significant implications for Nigeria’s democratic future.