Osun Poll: Tension, Alleged Arrests, Attacks Mar Impressive Turnout

By Adebola Muili

The Osun State governorship election on Saturday recorded impressive voter turnout across several parts of the state despite heightened political tension, allegations of arrests and attacks, as well as reported technical challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Voters across communities trooped out to elect the governor who will pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years, with the exercise largely peaceful in many polling units but punctuated by pockets of complaints and allegations.

The election is being contested by the incumbent governor and Accord Party candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke; the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dr Najeem Folasayo Salaam, and other candidates.

While voting commenced in many polling units without major disruptions, concerns over the functionality of BVAS, alleged arrests and reported attacks dominated early developments in some areas.

Voters Defy Tension

Despite the tension that preceded the election, voters in several communities turned out in large numbers, demonstrating strong interest in the exercise.

In Ibokun, a voter, Adewumi Irekandu, described the turnout as encouraging, saying residents were determined to participate in the democratic process.

“The turnout is fine. The people are impressed and well informed. They really want to cast their votes for the incumbent Governor because of his achievements,” Irekandu said.

He, however, raised concerns over the inability of some BVAS machines to capture or accredit voters, particularly those using older Permanent Voter Cards.

According to him, electoral officials were alerted to the problem and promised to resolve it.

Irekandu also alleged that some voters could not find their names on the voters’ register because they had not changed their polling locations, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the complaints to ensure eligible voters were not disenfranchised.

Security Presence Visible

Irekandu said the situation in his area remained calm, with security personnel deployed around polling locations.

“We have not had any security issue. We have seen security operatives but we would also want to advise them not to let down their guards because we don’t want disruption and bloodshed of any kind,” he said.

Similarly, the Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejorin, described the situation at Inkinyinwa, headquarters of Ward 3 collation centre, as manageable and under control after casting his vote.

Adejorin said security personnel were present and urged them to maintain their presence throughout the exercise.

“As of now, the situation is still manageable and under control. So, we can say the election is still going on well,” he said.

He added that voter turnout at his polling unit was encouraging and that he was able to cast his vote after the BVAS worked successfully.

Adeleke Alleges PDP Chairman’s Arrest

However, the relatively calm atmosphere in some areas was overshadowed by allegations of arrests involving prominent political actors.

Governor Adeleke condemned the reported arrest of the Osun State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Sunday Bisi, shortly after he voted in Ilesa.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke alleged that Bisi was arrested at his residence after returning from his polling unit and taken to an undisclosed location.

The governor described the alleged arrest as “barbaric” and “a vicious attack on free will”, claiming that it was politically motivated.

Adeleke further alleged that the arrest was part of an attempt to prevent his supporters from monitoring the collation of results.

“This latest sweep on my supporters, I have authoritatively learnt, is part of a broader plan to give the APC unhindered access to change results at collation centres and upturn our wins at the poll,” he alleged.

He called for the immediate release of Bisi and other persons he described as political prisoners across the state.

Accord Alleges Arrest of 52

Also, the Director-General of the Accord Party Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, alleged the arrest of about 52 people at the residence of a member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Inaolaji, in Ikire.

Oyewumi alleged that about 24 policemen stormed the lawmaker’s residence at midnight, destroyed the gate and arrested the occupants, including the Accord chairman in the local government.

“The whole drama started in the midnight when about 24 policemen stormed the house of our House of Assembly member, Ibrahim Inaolaji,” Oyewumi alleged.

“They destroyed the gate and arrested about 52 people there, including the local government chairman of Accord.”

He said those arrested were taken to Osogbo, adding that other Accord members and supporters had allegedly been arrested days before the election.

Oyewumi claimed the arrests were aimed at preventing party members from participating in the electoral process and monitoring the results.

Alleged Attacks in Ikire

The Accord campaign council chief also alleged attacks at some polling units in Ikire shortly after voting commenced.

He claimed that suspected thugs attacked an Accord agent at Orieru Polling Unit in Ward 1 before allegedly moving to St Joseph Primary School 1 and 2, where another voter was reportedly beaten and taken away on a motorcycle.

Oyewumi said he contacted the police and military authorities over the incidents but expressed concern over what he described as inadequate intervention.

The allegations could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

ADC Candidate Alleges Attack

The ADC governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam, also alleged that he escaped an attack shortly after casting his ballot.

Salaam said the incident caused what he described as a “total disruption” of the electoral process at the location.

“That was an attempt to attack me personally. It was my strategic movement away from that area that made it impossible for them to attack me. Of course, my security personnel protected me and helped me get out of the area,” he said.

The candidate alleged that several people, including elderly men and women, fled the area following the incident.

He also questioned the conduct of some security personnel, alleging that some officials watched as the situation unfolded.

Salaam said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident and called for an investigation to determine whether the alleged attack was deliberately targeted at him.

‘This Is Not Democracy’ — Salaam

Reacting to the incident, Salaam said elections should provide citizens with the opportunity to freely choose their leaders rather than allow political actors to determine outcomes through force or influence.

“If we really want to protect the democracy that we are all yearning for, this is not the way to go,” he said.

He further alleged that attempts to prevent voters from having their ballots counted would undermine the electoral process.

“This is not an election; it is a selection. You want people who want to be in power, and then you select them. That is exactly what they are doing,” Salaam alleged.

Basiru Votes, Backs APC

Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and his wife, Mrs Abibat Basiru, voted at Ward 7, Unit 3, in Osogbo Local Government Area at about 8:45 a.m.

Basiru commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the deployment of election materials and personnel, as well as voters for turning out in large numbers.

He also praised security agencies for their arrangements, describing the voting process at his polling unit as calm and hitch-free.

The APC national secretary expressed optimism that the election would be free, fair and credible, while also expressing confidence that the APC would emerge victorious.

He urged political parties and their supporters to remain peaceful throughout voting, counting and collation.

Results Begin to Trickle In

As voting ended in several polling units, attention shifted to counting and collation, with results beginning to emerge from different parts of the state.

Party agents and supporters monitored the counting process, while results were expected to move from polling units to ward, local government and state collation centres.
The reported arrests and allegations of attacks have heightened concerns over the safety of party agents and supporters during the collation process.

For many voters, however, the immediate priority remains the accurate counting of ballots cast and ensuring that the final outcome reflects the will of the electorate.

With the contest closely watched across the state, political tension is expected to remain high until INEC completes the collation and announces the final result.