Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the Tinubu administration against militarising the Osun governorship election or deploying state institutions for partisan advantage.

Speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, Atiku declared that “Osun is a test” of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct credible elections ahead of the next general election.

Atiku said the scale and posture of security deployment around the election resembled preparations for war rather 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,” he said.

He questioned why such overwhelming security capacity was not being deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits killing Nigerians and attacking communities.

Atiku warned INEC against “mysterious glitches, unexplained delays or manipulation,” demanding timely arrival of materials, unhindered voting, honest 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 raised fresh questions over the Chicago State University certificate President Bola Tinubu submitted to INEC, arguing that reported discrepancies in the document deserve explanation.

He said the certificate submitted to INEC reportedly bears June 22, 1979, while another produced in connection with CSU records bears June 27, 1979, with reported differences in signatures and description of the degree.

Atiku also questioned why names or signatures associated with university officials whose tenures came years after 1979 reportedly appear on documents bearing that date, asking whether they were subsequently produced replacement certificates and, if so, who authorised them.

He invoked Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, which provides for disqualification where a presidential candidate has presented a forged certificate to INEC, stressing that the exact document submitted to INEC 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 inclusion, Atiku pledged that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates under his political programme would be below 40, with a significant number below 30.

Charging young Nigerians to “Register. Organise. Lead,” Atiku urged them to transform frustration into political participation.

“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation,” he said.

“Your time is not tomorrow. Your time is now.” (Daily Trust)