Tension has continued to rise across Osun State less than 48 hours to Saturday’s governorship election, as the campaign councils of the major candidates yesterday trade fresh allegations of violence, intimidation, vote-buying and attempts to undermine the credibility of the poll.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said 15 political parties are participating in the election, with the incumbent, Ademola Adeleke, contesting on the platform of the Accord Party; while the All Progressives Congress (APC) is fielding Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

Other candidates include Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance (AA), Salaam Folasayo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Esan Olajide of the African Action Congress (AAC), among others.

One of our correspondents who went round Osogbo, the state capital and some local government areas yesterday observed a heavy presence of security personnel ahead of the poll.

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Although residents continued with their normal activities, the atmosphere remained charged in some parts of the state, with supporters of various candidates gathering at strategic locations.

Also observed was the movement of youths suspected to be security personnel, some of whom were seen brandishing weapons as they drove around parts of Osogbo.

The development comes against the backdrop of reports of thuggery, clashes, attacks and threats since the commencement of campaigns, with several suspects, including individuals allegedly linked to political actors, arrested.

There have also been arrests and detention of government officials and other individuals in connection with alleged electoral offences, some of whom were later released.

APC, Accord trade fresh accusations

The state’s APC Governorship Campaign Council yesterday accused the state government of harbouring and deploying thugs and individuals allegedly masquerading as members of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army ahead of Saturday’s election.

In a statement, the council’s Head of Media and Publicity Committee, Oluremi Omowaiye, described the allegation as a serious threat to the credibility and peaceful conduct of the election.

The council called on the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army and other security and intelligence agencies to investigate the allegation and establish the identities, affiliations and intentions of individuals suspected of impersonating security personnel.

It also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals or movements to the appropriate authorities.

In the same vein, the Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign organisation of Governor Adeleke, raised the alarm over an alleged plot to disrupt internet connectivity across parts of Osun on election day.

The chairman of its media committee, Bamidele Salam, said information available to the council suggested that some political actors were allegedly exploring ways of colluding with telecommunications and internet service providers to deliberately slow down or disrupt internet services during the election.

According to him, such a development could affect the effective deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other election-related communication and digital processes.

Salam urged telecommunications operators to remain neutral and resist any attempt to use their infrastructure to interfere with the election.

CISLAC raises alarm over violence, vote buying

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) also raised concerns over alleged electoral violence, political intimidation and vote buying ahead of the poll.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation said its monitoring of the electoral environment, alongside media reports and other assessments, indicated a worrying pattern of violence and intimidation.

CISLAC cited reported incidents including killings, shootings, clashes, attacks on political gatherings and destruction of property.

It expressed particular concern over the reported killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, who was allegedly struck by a stray bullet during a clash.

The organisation also referred to other reported incidents, including the killing of Kolade Eluyera in Irewole Local Government Area, the shooting of a political office holder in Osogbo and the killing of a political youth leader in Esa-Oke.

CISLAC stressed that the circumstances surrounding some of the incidents and the identities of those responsible remained subject to investigation.

It also expressed concern over alleged recruitment, financing and deployment of political thugs to intimidate voters, attack opponents and disrupt political activities.

The organisation warned that vote buying and other forms of voter inducement could undermine the integrity of the election by exploiting economic hardship and limiting voters’ ability to make independent choices.

CISLAC urged law enforcement agencies to investigate all allegations and prosecute anyone found culpable, irrespective of political affiliation.

It also called for clarification over reports of the deployment of armed military personnel to the Osun State office of INEC, urging the authorities to explain the purpose and legal basis of the deployment.

Police quiz senator over alleged incitement

The state police command yesterday quizzed the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, for allegedly inciting violence in the state.

A viral video had on Tuesday showed Fadahunsi making comments interpreted as a call for violence against supporters of the Accord Party. He later denied making such a call, saying he was quoted out of context.

The senator, accompanied by his aides, arrived at the police headquarters in Osogbo yesterday. He was initially directed to the Department of Criminal Investigation (CID) where he was questioned by senior police officers.

Journalists were barred from the investigation room where Fadahunsi spent about one hour and 57 minutes before being taken to the office of the Commissioner of Police. He later returned to the CID.

He was subsequently joined by a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke and a legal practitioner, Edmund Biriomoni.

Fadahunsi was later released, but told journalists that he honoured the police invitation and clarified what he described as a statement that had been “manipulated” in its interpretation.

He said: “I came here to honour the police invitation. We have met and I told them what I said, not the one manipulated by the mischievous interpreters of the Yoruba language.

“I am a Yoruba man. If a Hausa or Igbo person is interpreting, it may not be correct. Yoruba means a lot of things. What I said was that between now and Saturday, we will kill them with our votes.”

The senator also alleged that the security situation in Osun East was deteriorating, accusing the state government of turning the senatorial district into a battleground.

He, however, expressed confidence that APC supporters would turn out in large numbers to vote for the party’s governorship candidate, Oyebamiji, despite what he described as intimidation by political thugs.

Amnesty Int’l demands accountability; Obi seeks retraction

Amnesty International has condemned the senator’s comments, describing them as alleged incitement to violence ahead of the election.

The organisation said Fadahunsi should be held accountable over what it described as “reckless” remarks.

Amnesty said the authorities had an obligation to act against statements capable of inciting hostility, discrimination or violence, and urged them to urgently denounce inflammatory comments made online, at campaign events or through other platforms.

The organisation also called for accountability for anyone whose actions or statements could threaten the peaceful conduct of the election.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, also expressed concern over what he described as the inflammatory remarks attributed to Fadahunsi.

Obi called for an immediate retraction and urged stakeholders to allow the people of Osun to freely determine who governs them.

In a statement posted on his X handle, the former Anambra State governor said it was “alarming and unacceptable” for a senior lawmaker to make comments capable of heightening tension and potentially inciting electoral violence.

He urged security agencies to closely monitor inflammatory statements and ensure equal protection for voters, election officials and other citizens before, during and after the election.

Accord seeks EU’s intervention

The Accord Party has also written to the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, expressing concern over what it described as the deteriorating political and security situation in Osun.

In the letter, the party alleged widespread political violence, intimidation, arrests and harassment, as well as the alleged deployment of state institutions and security agencies in a manner it said had heightened tension.

The party claimed that at least 29 people had reportedly lost their lives in incidents connected with the political environment in the state, while several others sustained gunshot injuries.

It also alleged that more than 60 of its members and supporters were arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State, calling for independent scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the arrests.

Accord urged the European Union to encourage the federal government, security agencies and other public institutions to maintain political neutrality throughout the electoral process.

It also called on INEC to discharge its constitutional and statutory responsibilities independently, impartially and transparently.

With the election only hours away, the competing allegations have further raised concerns about the ability of political parties and security agencies to maintain peace and ensure that voters can freely exercise their franchise on Saturday.