Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Ondo State Attorney-General, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, has hailed the conduct of the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election as a defining test of character and responsibility in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
In a statement titled “When Character Meets Responsibility: Professor Amupitan, President Tinubu and the Osun Test”, Ajulo praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, for delivering a process that commanded public confidence. He noted that Amupitan’s leadership, tested for the first time in a major election since his appointment in October 2025, demonstrated integrity and neutrality.
Ajulo recalled his days as Amupitan’s student at the University of Jos, stressing that the character he witnessed in the classroom has now been validated in public office. “Character, when entrusted with responsibility, eventually introduces itself,” he said, underscoring that credibility, not party victory, must remain the ultimate measure of Nigeria’s elections.
The statement also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his intervention ahead of the polls when the EFCC froze Osun State Government accounts. Tinubu directed the agency to vacate the order, warning that the timing could undermine confidence in the electoral process. Ajulo described this as an act of democratic maturity, noting that true leadership requires not just lawful action but sensitivity to public trust.
He further highlighted the professionalism of security agencies during the election, stressing that soldiers and police must remain impartial protectors of the Constitution rather than political actors.
Ajulo concluded that the Osun election should not be seen merely as a contest between parties but as a test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. “The real challenge is whether neutrality can survive pressure, whether professionalism can survive politics, and whether those who wield power can respect outcomes that may not serve their immediate interest,” he stated.
The Osun poll, he argued, is only one chapter, with the larger test awaiting in 2027.
