By Stephen Simon
Political activities intensified on Thursday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) stepped up its campaign ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, with party leaders expressing confidence that the election would return the state to the ruling party. The poll is being closely watched as one of the biggest electoral contests before the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during campaign activities, the APC leadership described the election as an opportunity for the people of Osun to choose what it called a new direction for governance. The party urged its supporters to come out in large numbers and vote peacefully, assuring them that every lawful vote would count.
The opposition, however, maintained that it remains firmly rooted in the state and dismissed the APC’s optimism, insisting that its record in office and grassroots support would guarantee victory at the polls. Both parties have intensified campaigns across the state’s 30 local government areas in the final hours before the election.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its readiness for the exercise, assuring voters that all sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been distributed while electoral officials have been deployed to their respective locations. Security agencies have also announced comprehensive arrangements to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
Election observers say the Osun governorship poll will serve as a major test of Nigeria’s electoral process and could influence the political calculations of major parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. Analysts also expect voter turnout and the conduct of security personnel to be key indicators of the credibility of the exercise.
Residents across the state have appealed to political actors to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid actions capable of undermining the democratic process. As campaigns officially wind down, attention has shifted to Saturday’s vote, where the electorate will determine who governs the state for the next four years.
