• Fadahunsi questioned, released over alleged incitement video
• Accord seeks EU intervention over alleged violence, arrests
• ADC alleges plan to arrest Aregbesola ahead of poll
• Atiku, CISLAC warn against militarisation, electoral violence
• Egbedun petitions IGP over alleged threats against voters
• INEC adds SDP candidate to Osun governorship ballot
• Adeleke declares tomorrow work-free day

The countdown to Saturday’s Osun governorship election has been overshadowed by allegations of violence, threats and intimidation, as political parties and civil society groups warn against actions capable of undermining voters’ confidence in the poll.

The concerns have intensified with allegations of political killings, threats against opponents, voter intimidation, possible arrests of opposition figures and controversial security deployments.

The latest controversy has centred on a viral video allegedly showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, making comments interpreted as a call for the killing of Accord Party members in Ijesaland.

Fadahunsi, who was questioned by the Osun State Police Command yesterday and later released, denied the interpretation, insisting that he was referring to defeating his opponents with votes rather than violence.

His questioning, however, has added to the tension, with the Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, separately accusing an APC House of Representatives candidate, Francis Eniade, of threatening him and other voters.

The claims have triggered a wider political confrontation, with the APC defending Fadahunsi, the Accord Party seeking European Union intervention and the African Democratic Congress alleging a plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of the election.

Civil society groups have also sounded the alarm. The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) warned of violence, political intimidation and vote buying, while the Yoruba for Democratic Values (YDV) urged political actors to prevent the contest from degenerating into bloodshed.

Fadahunsi was released after spending over two hours with the Osun State Police Command.

He had been invited by the police following controversy over the video, recorded during a protest at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, in which he was allegedly heard saying, “kill any Accord member”.

The senator had maintained that the video was doctored by aides of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and had agreed to honour the police invitation.

He arrived at the Osun State Police Command at about 2:25 p.m. and was directed to the Department of Criminal Investigation (CID), where he was led into an investigation room by the Commissioner of Police in charge of election duty, Samuel Erale Etifo, alongside other senior officers.

Fadahunsi spent about one hour and 57 minutes in the room before being moved to the Commissioner of Police’s office, where he spent another 20 minutes. He was later taken back to the CID.

A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, and Fadahunsi’s counsel, Edmund Biriomoni, later joined him at the CID.

Speaking with journalists after his release, the senator said he had honoured the police invitation and explained what he meant by his statement.

“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.”

Fadahunsi described the development as worrisome but expressed confidence in the All Progressives Congress ahead of the election.

“It is worrisome, but we have left the whole thing to the owner of life. Come Saturday, you will see a marvellous turnout for APC,” he said.

Osun Assembly Speaker condemns alleged threats against voters ahead of poll
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, yesterday condemned the statement allegedly made by Fadahunsi.

Egbedun, who disclosed that he had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, over an alleged threat by the All Progressives Congress candidate for Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, Francis Eniade, said he would not be intimidated ahead of Saturday’s election.

Addressing a press conference at the House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo, the Speaker said the constitutional rights of citizens were increasingly being overshadowed by disturbing statements, threats, intimidation, harassment and alleged attempts to suppress voters.

Referring to alleged threats attributed to Fadahunsi and Eniade in viral videos, Egbedun described the statements as unacceptable in a democratic society.

The Speaker said he was particularly concerned about an alleged video threat by Eniade, in which he claimed the APC candidate mentioned his name and threatened him and other eligible voters in the Odo-Otin, Boripe and Ifelodun Federal Constituency.

“This is not merely political rhetoric that should be dismissed or ignored. It is a matter that raises serious concerns about threats to life, voter intimidation and the promotion of political violence ahead of the election,” he said.

He called on the Inspector-General of Police to order the immediate arrest and investigation of Eniade over the alleged threat, particularly because he was personally mentioned alongside other eligible voters in the video.

Osun APC defends Fadahunsi, accuses Adeleke of political vendetta
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress yesterday defended Fadahunsi over the viral video.

The party also criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke for demanding Fadahunsi’s arrest, alleging that the governor lacked the moral standing to make such a call.

In a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC alleged that Adeleke remained bitter over Fadahunsi’s defection to the party, claiming that the Accord Party’s support base had been depleted in Osun East Senatorial District.

The APC described the viral video as doctored by the governor’s camp to create a false narrative, stressing that it did not support jungle justice as a means of settling political disputes.

“We are stating unequivocally that the accusation of the Accord Party functionaries in this regard was borne out of the desperation of the players of the relatively unknown political party to act maliciously against the highly respected and peace-loving federal lawmaker under the guise of playing politics,” the party said.

Fadahunsi accuses Adeleke of introducing political violence into Osun East
Also, Fadahunsi yesterday accused Governor Adeleke of introducing political violence into the Ife/Ijesa axis ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Adeleke had on Tuesday in Osogbo called for Fadahunsi’s immediate arrest over the alleged statement in which he was said to have instigated his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.

However, addressing a press conference in Osogbo yesterday, Fadahunsi accused the governor of failing to prevent violence and politically motivated killings, which he claimed had spread to Osun East.

The senator alleged that 30 APC members had been killed in the past month in orchestrated attacks aimed at intimidating opposition supporters and preventing them from coming out to vote.

“Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of APC, for us to be destabilised, so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes,” he alleged.

Fadahunsi, while referring to reported cases of violence in Ijesaland, alleged that four people were killed and 16 others sustained gunshot injuries during a crisis over control of the local government administration.

He also recalled violence in Esa-Oke in April 2025, alleging that four people were killed while 12 others sustained gunshot wounds.

Atiku warns against militarising Osun election, says poll is test for 2027
Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has warned against militarising the election or deploying state institutions for partisan advantage.

Speaking at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, Atiku described the poll as a test of Nigeria’s ability to conduct credible elections ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said the scale and posture of security deployment around the election appeared more suited to a military operation than a democratic exercise.

“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents,” Atiku said.

The former vice-president questioned why similar security capacity was not being deployed against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits attacking communities and killing Nigerians.

He warned security agencies against intimidating opposition supporters or using state institutions to influence the outcome of the election.

“The world is watching Osun. Nigerians are watching. History is taking notes. Let the people vote. Let every vote count. And let the will of the people prevail,” he said.

CISLAC warns of violence, vote buying ahead of Osun governorship election
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) warned of growing threats of electoral violence, political intimidation and vote buying ahead of the election, saying the developments could undermine the credibility of the poll.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC said findings from independent monitoring, media reports and ongoing assessments of the electoral environment indicated a worrying pattern of violence, intimidation and alleged voter inducement across the state.

While noting that the circumstances and responsibility for some of the incidents remained subject to investigation, the group said the reported loss of lives and rising tensions demonstrated the urgent need for stakeholders to prioritise peace and the protection of citizens.

It expressed particular concern over the alleged recruitment, financing and deployment of political thugs and other agents of violence to intimidate voters, attack opponents, disrupt political activities and influence electoral outcomes.

CISLAC warned that such activities could create an atmosphere of fear and prevent citizens from exercising their constitutional right to vote freely and peacefully.

The organisation also raised concerns over reports of vote buying and other forms of voter inducement, describing the practice as a threat to the integrity of the electoral process.

According to CISLAC, the commercialisation of elections exploits economic hardship and vulnerability while weakening citizens’ ability to make independent political choices.

The group said recent developments, including the arrest of government officials and other individuals in connection with alleged electoral offences and the reported recovery of cash, Permanent Voter Cards and voter registers, underscored the need for heightened vigilance by law enforcement and electoral authorities.

It called for transparent investigation of allegations of electoral offences and prosecution strictly in accordance with the law, “without political favour or discrimination.”

CISLAC also expressed concern over reports of the deployment of armed military personnel to the Osun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the poll.

The organisation acknowledged that extraordinary security measures might become necessary where there were credible threats to lives, electoral materials or critical infrastructure.

However, it said any military deployment connected with an electoral process must have a clear legal and operational basis, remain within its defined mandate and be guided by neutrality, proportionality and respect for citizens’ rights.

Accord Party seeks EU intervention in Osun political crisis
The Accord Party has asked the European Union (EU) to intervene in the political crisis in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, alleging violence, arrests, intimidation and harassment of political actors and supporters.

In a letter dated August 12, 2026, and addressed to Gautier Migot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, alleged that the political atmosphere in the state had deteriorated ahead of the election.

Mgbudem claimed that at least 29 people had been killed and several others injured in incidents allegedly linked to the political situation in the state.

He also alleged that more than 60 Accord members and supporters had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State.

The party chairman expressed concern over what he described as the selective use of federal law-enforcement and regulatory institutions during the election period.

He, however, said the party’s concerns were not intended to obstruct legitimate investigations or lawful enforcement actions.

“The timing, manner and perceived selectivity of actions by public institutions during an election period are capable of undermining public confidence if they are not demonstrably impartial, transparent and consistent with due process,” the petition read.

YDV warns against political violence ahead of Osun governorship election
The Yoruba for Democratic Values (YDV) condemned inflammatory statements, threats and political rhetoric capable of triggering violence ahead of the governorship election.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Debo Adeniran, the group urged political parties, candidates, leaders and their supporters to refrain from actions capable of undermining peace and public confidence in the electoral process.

YDV said Yorubaland should not be turned into a “killing field” because of political competition, stressing that the voter’s card was a democratic instrument rather than a weapon of war.

It said the Yoruba people’s tradition of enlightenment, civilisation and respect for human dignity should not be undermined by political violence, intimidation or attacks on opponents.

According to the group, politics should be a contest of ideas, programmes, character and competence, rather than violence, bloodshed and intimidation.

YDV expressed concern that reckless statements by politicians and their supporters could create fear, deepen political divisions, encourage thuggery and weaken confidence in the electoral process.

It also warned that political violence could have wider economic and social consequences for Osun State and the South-West, including disruption to businesses, investment, education and transportation, as well as damage to livelihoods.

ADC alleges plan to arrest Aregbesola ahead of Osun election
The African Democratic Congress has alleged plans to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received what it described as credible reports of plans to arrest Aregbesola in the days leading to the election.

The ADC said the reports could not be dismissed in view of what it described as a pattern of intimidation, harassment and alleged misuse of state institutions against opposition parties.

“Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party. If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” the party said.

It added that arresting Aregbesola on the eve of an election in which the ADC was participating would raise concerns that the objective was to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities.

Adeleke declares Friday work-free day ahead of Osun governorship election
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared tomorrow (Friday) a work-free day for public service workers to enable them to travel where necessary and participate in Saturday’s governorship election.

The declaration was contained in a circular issued by the Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina.

According to the circular, the work-free day covers all categories of workers except those on emergency and essential duties.

Adeleke also urged workers, their relatives and friends to vote massively on Saturday and defend their votes to ensure continuity of what he described as good governance across the state.

INEC adds SDP candidate to Osun governorship ballot
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, to the ballot for Saturday’s election.

INEC, in a statement yesterday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the decision was in compliance with a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026.

The case, filed under Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, was between the SDP and Ajala on one side and INEC on the other.

According to the commission, the court ordered it to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” the name and particulars of Ajala as the SDP candidate for the election.

INEC said it had consequently commenced the reproduction of the ballot papers to accommodate the SDP candidate.

The electoral body disclosed that the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State today.

Those inciting violence in Osun would end up in prison at The Hague, says Hashim
As the Osun State governorship election enters a crucial phase, the presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr Gbenga Hashim, has warned those allegedly inciting violence over the poll to be mindful of the consequences of their actions.

Days ago, a senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, was reported to have threatened members of the Accord Party with dire consequences if they came out to vote on Saturday.

Although Fadahunsi later denied the allegation, the claim generated widespread reactions across the country.

Hashim, however, maintained that Fadahunsi and others allegedly inciting political violence could face prosecution before the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that incitement to political violence, particularly murder, constitutes an international crime under the Rome Statute.