Osun State is set to hold its governorship election on Saturday amid heightened political tension, increased security presence, political realignment and concerns over violence that have shaped residents’ expectations ahead of the polls.
The election, which features 15 candidates, is characterised by fierce political competition, allegations of intimidation and recent incidents of violence.
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Among the contenders are the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is contesting on the platform of the Accord Party; former Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Salaam, the flagbearer of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Pre-election occurrence
In recent days, several developments have emerged, significantly shaping residents’ perceptions and expectations ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
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The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro, withdrew from the race on 8 August, a week before the election, and endorsed Mr Oyebamiji. However, his name will remain on the ballot.
Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday approved the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate following a court order, bringing the number of candidates on the ballot to 15.
However, concerns over violence have remained high in the build-up to the election, given Osun’s history of electoral violence.
As of July, according to the police, about 30 people had been killed in politically related or pre-election violence across the Southwest state.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further after Francis Fadahunsi, senator representing Osun East, allegedly urged APC supporters during a rally in Ilesa to kill members of the rival Accord Party, the governor’s party.
Following the senator’s comments, the governor’s campaign organisation, the Imole Campaign Council, called for Fadahunsi’s arrest, while the senator was reportedly under investigation by the police.
Earlier, the Ademola Adeleke campaign group accused the police of intimidating and arresting its supporters, allegations the police have denied.
The campaign council said more than 60 of its leaders and members were in police detention and petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the alleged arrests.
Beyond the political contest, the developments have left many residents concerned not only about their safety, but also about the credibility of Saturday’s polls.
In separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES, the state residents said the increased presence of security personnel had brought relative calm. Still, they urged political actors, security agencies, and electoral officials to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
Calls for peaceful polls
Reacting to pre-election-day events and the heavy presence of security officials in the state, residents of Osun State called for a peaceful, free, and fair governorship election.
They urged political parties, candidates, security agencies and electoral officials to ensure that voters are allowed to exercise their franchise without intimidation.
For many residents of Osun State, the decision to vote in Saturday’s election is no longer just about choosing a preferred candidate but also about whether they can safely walk to their polling units, cast their ballots, and return home unharmed.
Dolapo Omoniyi, a commercial transport dealer, said political violence had reduced in recent days, particularly following the deployment of security personnel across the state.
“We realised political violence has reduced, especially since the arrival of heavy security here in Osogbo,” Mr Omoniyi said.
However, he urged voters to come out and vote in a peaceful environment, expressing hope that the next administration would improve the state’s current economic situation.
“We hope things will get better after the election because things are currently difficult. We are just trying our best; even this transport business is not as lucrative as before,” he said.
Similarly, for Folashade Adesina, a trader and caterer, the priority should be to ensure a peaceful and credible election and to encourage residents to vote in large numbers.
“I only implore all stakeholders to let everything be peaceful and fair in the Saturday election, and people should go out massively to vote for candidates of their choice,” Adesina said.
She urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to accept the election outcome, regardless of the winner, without resorting to violence.
Adesina, who said she had catered for politicians from different parties, and that political differences should not divide people.
“All the politicians are of the same caucus. I am a caterer, and I did cook for them; they all eat at the same table. It is only their supporters that allow violence to divide them,” she said.
Also, Abiodun Olawale, a resident of the Ogo-Oluwa area, said his major expectation was for the election to proceed without violence.
Mr Olawale urged voters not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of violence, noting that political violence would ultimately affect ordinary people.
“The families of these politicians are not even in Osun State during this period, but if things go sour, it will only affect the residents,” he said.
He also called on the INEC to ensure transparency throughout the voting and counting processes.
“INEC officials should also carry out their roles in all sincerity to make sure our votes count. They should not allow anybody to steal our ballot materials. They should count our votes in our presence,” Mr Olawale said.
Adura Oluwapelumi, a commercial motorcyclist, also expressed concern about previous political violence but said the increased presence of security personnel had helped to restore a sense of calm.
“The political violence in the previous days was displeasing, but we appreciate that security officials are now moving around the state, and things are now seeming peaceful here in Osogbo,” Oluwapelumi said.
He urged the government to allow security agencies to carry out their duties diligently and maintain the heightened security presence throughout the election.
“As a commercial motorcyclist in the state, I will follow whoever wins in the election. We only hope they will make life easy for us,” he said.
Samuel Omotosho, an indigene of Egbedore Local Government Area who works in the private sector, said the build-up to Saturday’s election differed from previous governorship elections he had witnessed in the state.
According to him, the preparations of two major political parties had contributed to heightened tension, with one of them appearing to approach the election as though it were a war.
Omotosho urged security agencies to remain neutral at polling units and ensure that eligible voters were allowed to vote for candidates of their choice.
He, however, expressed support for the incumbent administration, saying he believed Mr Adeleke had performed well and deserved continuity.
“I am not talking as a politician. The incumbent governor is working well, and we want continuity in Osun State. We do not want anything to disturb us here in Osun State,” he said.
He added that some government projects assigned to residents had been executed well and should be sustained.
Security presence
The residents further expressed mixed feelings. While some said the heavy deployment of security personnel had given them confidence to participate, others said the killings and attacks recorded during the campaign had left many voters afraid.
For Okunola Opeyemi, the presence of security personnel at his polling unit has eased his fears and strengthened his resolve to vote.
“I will go and vote because where I will be voting, there will be police, soldiers and other security personnel. So, if anything happens, they will arrest the person,” he said.
Opeyemi, however, urged voters to avoid confrontations and abide by the rules at their polling units.
“Just vote for who you want and go home. Don’t look for trouble,” he said.
He advised voters to remain orderly at polling units and respect the voting process.
“Be in your queue. If it is your turn, proceed to vote for your choice. Where you want to vote, the police and other security personnel will be there, so there should be no trouble,” he said.
However, not everyone shares Opeyemi’s confidence.
Daniel Olapoye, another resident in Osogbo, said the violence reported across the state has created fear among residents and could discourage some from participating in the election.
“It is what we have seen. The trouble we have witnessed up till now is making everybody afraid to go and vote,” he said.
He questioned the value of risking lives for an election when political leaders would continue with their lives after the violence.
“If someone dies now, the politicians will continue with their lives,” he said, before expressing hope that the election would be peaceful.
“May the election go peacefully,” he added.
For Abdullahi Imran, the tension surrounding the election has made prayer as important as political participation.
“It has been bad news since the campaign started. Let us just keep praying to God because, with all the violence we have been hearing, we are not at peace,” he said.
His comments reflect the anxiety that has followed reports of killings, shootings and clashes in parts of the state in the weeks leading to the election.
‘We must vote despite the fear’
Oluwasheju Abayomi, a PoS operator, said withdrawing from the election because of fear would mean surrendering one of the most important rights available to citizens.
He urged residents to come out, vote for candidates they believe can govern the state and refuse to allow the violence surrounding the election to determine their participation.
“We can’t just say we won’t vote because of what is going on. We must vote because it is our right,” he said.
According to him, voters should be guided by their convictions rather than intimidation or political pressure.
“We need to go and vote for whoever we want. Nobody can say we should not vote. It is our right,” he said.
Beyond concerns about violence, residents also spoke against attempts by politicians to influence voters with money or gifts.
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Opeyemi urged voters to resist inducements and make independent choices at the ballot box.
“They should vote for their own choice. They should not allow anyone to give them little money or gifts to influence their vote,” he said.
His position highlights another concern surrounding the election: whether voters will be able to make their choices freely despite economic hardship and the reported use of financial inducements during elections.
For the residents interviewed, however, the immediate priority is simpler: getting through election day safely.
Their responses reveal a state caught between fear and determination, as they are aware of the risks created by the violence but are still unwilling to surrender their right to participate in choosing who governs Osun State.
As voters prepare to head to the polling units across the state on Saturday, their biggest hope is that the security presence promised by the authorities will translate into a peaceful election day, allowing them to vote without fear.
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