Politics
Osun poll: Residents stock up, hopeful as security tightens
RESIDENTS across Osun State are making last-minute preparations for Saturday’s governorship election, with some stocking up on food and other essentials, while others have chosen to stay indoors amid heightened security and lingering fears over election-related violence.
The ICIR in the state observed a mixed atmosphere across Ilesha, Osogbo, Ede North and Ede South on Thursday and Friday, with residents expressing optimism about the poll.
They also remained cautious about their movements ahead of the exercise.
While Ilesha became unusually quiet from about 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Osogbo was relatively calm but was heavily policed.
In Ede North, residents were seen making last-minute purchases ahead of the poll, while election officials and corps members were preparing for deployment to polling locations.
The scenes, observed across areas covered by The ICIR, reflected how residents prepared for an election that has generated considerable anxiety.
Ilesha falls into a lull
The ICIR observed unusually low activity in Ilesha from about 5 p.m. on Thursday, with fewer people and vehicles on the streets than would ordinarily be expected on an evening.
The calm atmosphere came amid concerns over reported electoral violence in the build-up to the election.
The tension has been fuelled by several incidents recorded across the state during the campaign period.
The ICIR reported that at least 73 election-related violent incidents were recorded in the state between October 2025 and July 2026, with 78 per cent of the incidents occurring between May and July.
The ICIR also reported on August 11, that the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, directed his All Progressives Congress (APC) members and supporters to kill Accord Party members in Ilesa and environs wherever they find them before the election.
The senator said in a viral video that his call for the Accord Party members’ elimination was in retaliation for his party members, who he said were allegedly killed by members of the Accord Party.
The lawmaker later said in a statement issued by his media aide that he was misinterpreted, arguing that he meant that his supporters should vote overwhelmingly to defeat the Accord Party, whose candidate and incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election. Given the interpretation of the Yoruba Language in which he issued the order, the senator only backtracked after backlash.
Before the circulation of the video online, reports had indicated that at least five people were killed in Ilesa in incidents attributed to cult clashes by the police.
However, for some residents, the safest option appeared to be limiting their movements as the election drew closer.
Heavy security presence in Osogbo
The subdued atmosphere in Ilesha contrasted with the situation in Osogbo, where residents continued with their lawful businesses despite a huge presence of security personnel.
Osogbo remained relatively peaceful on Thursday and Friday, but security operatives were visible across major roads and strategic locations.
The reporter observed police personnel stationed around roads leading to Eluku Koto, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Odun area, Ife-Akari and Ijetu.
The Federal Government deployed the officers, including those of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Military, among others to guarantee peace before, during and after the poll.
At a briefing at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedo, said the police had deployed helicopters and drones for aerial surveillance across the state.
“Our air components have arrived. Our helicopter and drone units are on the ground, and they have commenced surveillance patrols across the state,” he said.
He said one Police Mobile Force unit had been deployed to each of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while two units of combat-ready armed PMF personnel had been deployed to the INEC headquarters.
Seven units of the Special Protection Unit, he added, would secure the movement of electoral materials and protect election officials.
Four police officers for each polling unit
The police spokesman also announced the deployment of four unarmed officers to every polling unit in the state.
According to Okokon, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed the deployment as part of measures to protect voters and election officials.
Osun has more than 3,700 polling units, meaning thousands of officers will be deployed directly to voting locations. The Nigeria Police Force alone deployed over 15,000 officers for the election.
The deployment is expected to provide reassurance to voters, particularly in areas where violence has previously been reported.
Movement restriction begins at midnight
The police also announced a restriction on vehicular movement across Osun from midnight on Friday.
“By 12 midnight on Friday into Saturday, we will be locking down the state. We will be stopping vehicular movement at all locations in Osun State,” he said.
The restriction was already having an effect on movement in Osogbo and Ede on Friday, where traffic was lighter than usual.
Some businesses also remained closed, while civil servants stayed away from the state secretariat in Abere following the public holiday declared by the state government.
Residents remain hopeful
Despite the concerns, residents who spoke with The ICIR in Osogbo expressed optimism about the poll. Some said the heavy police presence had made them feel safer and encouraged them to come out to vote.
Others urged political parties and their supporters to avoid violence and allow residents to exercise their constitutional right to vote.A resident of Osogbo, Folake Olatunji, who spoke with The ICIR, urged voters to remain calm during the exercise.
Expressing optimism that the election would be peaceful, she said she would vote for her preferred candidate.
While speaking on the pre-election violence recorded across the state, another resident of Oshogbo, Tajudeen Adigun, said cases of electoral violence were not uncommon with Nigerian elections.
He however said nothing would deter him from coming out to exercise his rights on Saturday.
INEC moves materials across the state
Meanwhile while residents prepared for the poll, INEC has moved into the final phase of its logistical preparations.
The commission commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to the state’s 30 local government areas on Thursday night and continued into Friday morning.
The distribution was delayed following the production and delivery of new ballot papers and result sheets after the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was added to the ballot following a court order.
The development increased the number of political parties contesting the governorship election to 15. The incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party; the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam are the leading contenders in the race.
Meanwhile, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidates, Adebayo Adewale and Adedamola Adebayo, respectively, withdrew from the race hours to the poll and endorsed Adeleke.
Voting commences at 8:30 a.m.
Ariyo Rufus, Head of Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Inclusivity at INEC State Office in Osun, said the commission was prepared for the exercise.
He said voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. However, voters who on the queue at 2:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
He also urged eligible voters to come out and exercise their franchise peacefully.
