The police, army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have mounted heavy security surveillance across Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
PREMIUM TIMES reporters monitoring the election from different parts of the state observed armed security personnel, particularly police and military officers, patrolling strategic streets in Osogbo, Ikirun, Okuku, Ila, Ilesa, Ede, Iwo, Gbongan, Ejigbo and Ile-Ife, with some blaring sirens.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office along the Osogbo-Gbongan Road in the Abere area of Osogbo is being guarded by armed military and police personnel.
Electoral offices across the areas visited were also heavily guarded. In most of the INEC offices, the distribution of sensitive materials to Registration Area Centres (RACs) began as early as 10 a.m., with nearly all the offices visited having completed the distribution.
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Vehicles conveying the sensitive materials were escorted by armed security personnel.
In Osogbo Local Government Area, the distribution of sensitive materials to the six RACs began around 11 a.m. Similar operations were observed in Olorunda and Ejigbo Local Government Areas, where the materials were distributed under heavy security escort.
Police and military personnel were also stationed at checkpoints along major roads leading to the state capital, including the Osogbo-Gbongan Road and the Ife-Ibadan expressway, a major entry route into Osogbo.
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INEC cleared 16 candidates for the election. However, the APGA candidate, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro and Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have announced their withdrawal from the race and declared support for the APC and Accord candidates, respectively. They will appear on the ballot.
The three major contenders are Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who is seeking a second term; Bola Oyebamiji, a former commissioner for finance; and Najeem Salaam, a former speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, who is contesting on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The other candidates are 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), the party on whose platform Mr Adeleke was elected governor in 2022, is not fielding a candidate in the election amid its prolonged leadership crisis.
Mr Adeleke left the party for the Accord Party in December.
However, concerns over possible violence have remained high in the build-up to the election, given Osun’s history of electoral violence.
As of July, the police said about 30 people had been killed in politically related or pre-election violence across the state.
Fear started to grip residents after Francis Fadahunsi, the senator representing Osun East, allegedly urged APC supporters at a rally in Ilesa to kill members of the rival Accord Party.
Following the senator’s comments, the governor’s campaign organisation, the Imole Campaign Council, called for his arrest. The senator was subsequently reportedly placed under police investigation. He, however, participated in the APC mega rally held in Osogbo on Thursday. He was escorted to the venue by police officers.
Earlier, the Adeleke campaign organisation accused the police of intimidating and arresting its supporters, allegations the police denied.
The campaign council said more than 60 of its leaders and members were being held in police custody and petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the alleged arrests.
With security tightened across the state, the developments have left many residents concerned not only about their safety but also about the credibility and peaceful conduct of Saturday’s election.
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