The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity (NAS/PC), has issued a strong warning to President Bola Tinubu ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, urging him not to deploy the power of the Federal Government to manipulate the election in favour of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group called on Tinubu to resist any temptation to rig the election and instead demonstrate statesmanship by ensuring that all governorship candidates compete on a level playing field.
The NAS Capoon, Dr Charles Meribole, made the demand in a statement titled, “The Votes Must Count in Osun Governorship Election,” while expressing grave concern over the violence, intimidation and growing political tension that have characterised the build-up to the poll.
NAS/PC said the reported deaths recorded during the pre-election period, including figures referenced from Amnesty International, as well as concerns raised by civil society organisations, showed that Osun was facing a dangerous threat to democratic stability.
The organisation also condemned the actions and rhetoric surrounding the leading political parties, including the Accord Party and the APC, warning that continued political violence could undermine the credibility of the election and further erode public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to the group, democracy cannot survive where institutions are allegedly weaponised for political purposes, voters are induced with money or other incentives, and citizens are intimidated from exercising their constitutional rights.
NAS/PC therefore placed a direct responsibility on President Tinubu to ensure that security agencies protect voters and remain neutral throughout the electoral process.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to act as a true Commander-in-Chief by ensuring a level playing field for all the governorship candidates in Saturday’s governorship election.
“He bears the greatest responsibility to ensure the protection of the electorate in Osun and dismantle every notion of the deployment of ‘Federal Might’ to suppress the will of the people,” the organisation stated.
The warning comes amid heightened political tension in Osun, with the group insisting that the Federal Government must not use its influence, security apparatus or other state institutions to tilt the election towards any political party.
NAS/PC also turned its attention to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the electoral body to make the Osun election a demonstration of its independence, credibility and commitment to protecting the votes of Nigerians.
The organisation said INEC could not afford to fail the people of Osun, insisting that every stage of the election, from the distribution of sensitive materials to voting, collation and declaration of results, must be handled transparently.
“INEC cannot afford to fumble. To honour its commitment to the electorate in Osun, INEC must execute every stage of the process flawlessly, from logistical deployment of materials to the unquestionable conduct and integrity of its officials and the final declaration of results,” NAS/PC said.
It demanded that the electoral commission take firm measures to prevent irregularities, including alleged alteration of results, disappearance of electoral officers and missing result sheets.
“The Electoral Commission must demonstrate its independence and impartiality by ensuring that every vote cast at the polling units is accurately recorded and protected,” it added.
The group further warned security agencies against turning Osun into what it described as a politically intimidating environment, urging them to remain strictly apolitical and avoid excessive militarisation that could frighten voters away from polling units.
“Security agencies owe their allegiance to Nigeria’s Constitution and not to any politician, political party or narrow interest. Every troublemaker, no matter how highly placed, must be held accountable,” the organisation declared.
NAS/PC also challenged political leaders and candidates to control their supporters and take responsibility for their conduct, stressing that political ambition must not be allowed to destroy the peace of the state.
The organisation appealed to voters to reject violence, intimidation and provocation before, during and after the election.
It maintained that Osun had already suffered enough from election-related violence and that Saturday’s election must not become another trigger for bloodshed.
“Osun State has seen enough bloodshed. The cycle of election-related violence must end. The people deserve a free and fair process, and their votes must count,” NAS/PC said.
The organisation’s warning has added pressure on the Federal Government, security agencies and INEC to ensure that Saturday’s governorship election is conducted without interference, intimidation or manipulation.
NAS/PC maintained that the real test of Nigeria’s democracy would be whether the people of Osun are allowed to freely choose their governor and whether their votes are protected from the polling unit to the final declaration.