Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has urged residents of the state to reject what he described as agents of violence by coming out in large numbers to vote in the August 15 governorship election.

Speaking during a church service at Winners Chapel in Osogbo on Sunday, Adeleke said voters should not be intimidated by threats or violence allegedly linked to the opposition.

According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor claimed that the opposition had resorted to violence after losing the support of the people and realising that defeat was imminent.

He added that neither he nor the people of Osun State were intimidated by such actions.

“I urge all residents to come out peacefully on election day and use their votes to reject those behind the violence,” Adeleke said.

“On August 15, Osun people will show agents of violence that we are not cowards. Our people’s safety is guaranteed. Come out and vote. Punish those killing and maiming our people by voting against them on August 15,” he said.

The governor assured residents that his administration remained committed to protecting lives and property, stressing that their safety was his top priority.

Adeleke said he was not intimidated by the Osun APC, insisting that his administration had the capacity to face any challenge.

However, he stressed that his priority remained the safety and protection of the people, urging residents to come out and vote according to their conscience.

“Our record in workers’ welfare, healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture and other sectors speaks for itself, and I am confident the people of Osun will give us another mandate on August 15,” Adeleke said.

The Action Alliance (AA) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 48 hours to review its published list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, alleging that the names of its candidates were omitted.

The party made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Chairman, Chief Barrister Kenneth Udeze.

According to Udeze, the party wants INEC to publish a revised list that includes candidates nominated by the National Executive Committee under his leadership.

“The Court of Appeal has affirmed the legitimacy of the leadership under my chairmanship, yet candidates validly nominated by our National Executive Committee were omitted from the list published by INEC,” Udeze said.

AA argued that the omission contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 governing the publication of candidates submitted by political parties.

According to the statement, the party’s candidates emerged through primaries conducted within the timelines prescribed by law and should therefore be reflected in the published list.

The party urged INEC to urgently review the publication and correct what it described as an omission.

“We are giving INEC 48 hours to correct this omission. If our concerns are not addressed, we will explore all legal remedies available to us. We also urge civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders to closely monitor developments surrounding this matter,” Udeze said.