The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has urged President Bola Tinubu to refrain from influencing the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, warning that any attempt to alter the outcome could have far-reaching consequences.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric cautioned the Presidency against imposing any candidate on the people of Osun through unlawful means.
According to him, interfering with the election would not only undermine the will of the electorate but could also negatively affect the country and President Tinubu’s political future.
“Osun State’s election is in God’s hands. The Presidency should stay away from influencing the process because doing otherwise will have consequences. The President must resist any pressure to interfere with the outcome, as changing the will of God and the people will not end well,” the statement read.
Primate Ayodele further claimed that the Osun governorship election would have a significant impact on the 2027 presidential election, warning that any attempt to manipulate the process could trigger a national crisis.
He also called on the Inspector-General of Police and the military to ensure adequate security during the poll, alleging that some groups were already planning to cause unrest.
“Our security agencies must be fully prepared because I foresee violence and serious disturbances during the election. If these threats are not properly managed, they could lead to bloodshed. The safety of voters must remain a priority,” he said.
The cleric advised Governor Ademola Adeleke to remain vigilant, predicting that the election would be fiercely contested and characterised by heavy spending, violence and attempts at manipulation.
He warned that despite enjoying public support, Adeleke could still face attempts to undermine his re-election bid if he was not adequately prepared.
Primate Ayodele also appealed to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid violence and conduct the campaign peacefully.
He stressed that no political office was worth the loss of human lives and urged all contestants to accept the outcome of the election in good faith.
