Security Tightens in Osun Ahead of Governorship Election

The police, army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have set up heavy security across Osun State for Saturday's governorship election.

Reporters from PREMIUM TIMES saw armed security personnel, especially police and military officers, patrolling key streets in Osogbo, Ikirun, Okuku, Ila, Ilesa, Ede, Iwo, Gbongan, Ejigbo, and Ile-Ife. Some of them were also using sirens.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office on the Osogbo-Gbongan Road in Abere, Osogbo is being protected by armed military and police personnel. Other electoral offices in the areas visited are also under heavy security.

By 10 a.m., many of the INEC offices had started distributing sensitive materials to Registration Area Centres (RACs). Most of the offices visited completed their distribution early.

Vehicles carrying the sensitive materials were escorted by armed security personnel. In Osogbo Local Government Area, the distribution began around 11 a.m. Similar actions were seen in Olorunda and Ejigbo Local Government Areas, where materials were also distributed with heavy security.

Checkpoints set up by police and military personnel were along major roads leading to the state capital. This includes the Osogbo-Gbongan Road and the Ife-Ibadan expressway.

INEC has approved 16 candidates for the election. However, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of APGA and Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have withdrawn from the race and are now backing the APC and Accord candidates respectively. They will still appear on the ballot.

The three main candidates are Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who is running for a second term, Bola Oyebamiji, a former finance commissioner, and Najeem Salaam, a former speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Other candidates include Olanrewaju Farinloye (AA), Esan Olajide (AAC), Adeagbo Opawoye (ADP), Clement Adesuyi (APP), Masilo Adeleke (BP), Taofeek Adeleke (NNPP), Saliu Oyelami (PRP), Ogunsakin Olalekan (YPP), and Adefemi Adesuyi (ZLP).

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which Mr Adeleke used to become governor in 2022, is not fielding a candidate for this election due to ongoing leadership issues. Mr Adeleke left PDP for the Accord Party in December.

Concerns about possible violence have risen as the election approaches, given Osun's past electoral violence. As of July, the police reported that around 30 people had been killed in politically related or pre-election violence in the state.

Residents became worried after Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, allegedly told APC supporters at a rally in Ilesa to kill members of the rival Accord Party. After his comments, the governor's campaign group, the Imole Campaign Council, called for his arrest. He was later said to be under police investigation but still participated in the APC mega rally in Osogbo on Thursday, escorted by police.

Earlier, the Adeleke campaign group accused the police of intimidating and arresting its supporters, which the police denied. The campaign council stated that over 60 of its leaders and members were in police custody and submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the arrests.

With security on high alert, many residents are worried not just about their safety but also about the fairness and peaceful conduct of the election on Saturday.