The Pyrates Confraternity has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist any temptation to deploy federal influence or compromise security agencies to manipulate the upcoming Osun State governorship election. In an official statement issued on Friday, August 14, 2026, the advocacy group—officially known as the National Association of Seadogs (NAS)—warned that any attempt to subvert the democratic will of the people in Osun State could trigger widespread political instability across the Southwest region and further erode public trust in Nigeria’s electoral institutions.
The NAS Capoon, Dr Charles Meribole, in a statement entitled ‘’ The Votes Must Count in Osun Governorship Election’’ decried the pre-election violence that had gripped the state, stressing that it undermines democracy.
Why is the Pyrates Confraternity raising concerns over the Osun election?
The statement, signed by NAS leadership, highlighted growing public anxiety over potential voter intimidation, vote-buying, and the partisan deployment of state security forces ahead of the off-cycle gubernatorial contest. The group emphasized that Osun State holds a sensitive place in Nigeria’s electoral history, pointing out that previous elections in the state suffered from controversies surrounding inconclusive results and militarized polling centers. NAS stressed that President Tinubu, as a beneficiary of democratic struggles and a self-styled champion of constitutionalism, bears a personal and historical obligation to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) operates without executive overreach.
Furthermore, the organization called on political parties, candidate supporters, and security personnel to prioritize peace and adhere strictly to the provisions of the Electoral Act. The group reiterated that democratic legitimacy can only be sustained when citizens are allowed to choose their leaders through transparent, uncoerced balloting. They urged law enforcement agencies to remain neutral and focused strictly on maintaining order rather than acting as agents of political suppression.
“President Tinubu must resist any pressure or temptation from party stalwarts to deploy ‘federal might’ in Osun State. The integrity of our democratic processes must be preserved, and the sovereign choice of the electorate must be respected without intimidation.”
The warning comes as political campaigning reaches a critical pitch in Osun State, with rival political factions trading accusations over electoral violence and compromised logistics. Civil society organizations and domestic election observers have echoed NAS’s call, advocating for heightened surveillance to prevent electoral malpractices. Will federal authorities and electoral officers heed these warnings to deliver a transparent and credible poll in Osun State?
