The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the administration of President Bola Tinubu against militarising the Osun State governorship election or deploying state institutions for partisan advantage.
Atiku issued the warning while speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, where he described the Osun election as a test of Nigeria’s ability to conduct credible elections ahead of the next general election.
He said the scale and posture of security deployment around the election appeared more suited to preparations for war than a civil 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 such security capacity was not being deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits responsible for killing Nigerians and attacking communities.
He also warned INEC against what he described as “mysterious glitches, unexplained delays or manipulation,” demanding the timely arrival of electoral materials, unhindered voting, credible 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.
“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 also renewed his questions over the Chicago State University certificate submitted to INEC by President Bola Tinubu, saying reported discrepancies in the document require clarification.
He claimed that the certificate submitted to INEC reportedly bears June 22, 1979, while another document produced in connection with Chicago State University records bears June 27, 1979.
According to Atiku, the two documents also reportedly contain differences in signatures and descriptions of the degree.
He further questioned why names or signatures associated with university officials whose tenures reportedly began years after 1979 appeared on documents bearing that date.
Atiku asked whether replacement certificates were subsequently produced and, if so, who authorised them.
He cited Section 137(1)(j) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides for disqualification where a presidential candidate has presented a forged certificate to INEC, and argued that the specific document submitted to the electoral commission 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 participation in politics, Atiku pledged that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates under his political programme would be below 40 years of age, with a significant number below 30.
He urged young Nigerians to register, organise and take active roles in politics rather than remain on the sidelines.
“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation,” he said.
“Your time is not tomorrow. Your time is now.”
