Tension reportedly erupted in parts of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, after gunshots were heard during the governorship election, with suspected political thugs allegedly disrupting voting and attempting to seize election materials.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Ogo-Oluwa/Golf Junction area, where voting had initially proceeded peacefully before armed individuals allegedly arrived and began shooting sporadically. Reports said the development caused panic among voters and security personnel at the affected polling location.
According to reports, the attackers were alleged to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and were said to have attempted to take control of ballot materials. The allegation has not been independently established, and it remains unclear who was responsible for the reported shooting.
The incident is significant because violence at polling units can disrupt voting, frighten voters and electoral officials, and potentially compromise election materials. It also raises concerns about the security of the electoral process as results move from polling units to collation centres.
The reported disturbance came amid other incidents recorded during the Osun governorship election. In Ejigbo, voting was reportedly disrupted at the polling unit of African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam after suspected thugs invaded the area. Voters and electoral officials reportedly fled, while security personnel were deployed to restore order.
Meanwhile, the election has remained closely contested, with Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC and other candidates competing for the governorship.
The reported violence also comes against the backdrop of earlier concerns over political violence and the proliferation of weapons in the state ahead of the election. Security agencies had previously announced arrests linked to suspected political thuggery.
As voting and result collation continue, security agencies face pressure to protect voters, electoral officials and election materials while maintaining neutrality.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is responsible for the official collation and declaration of the election result.
Until investigations establish the circumstances surrounding the Osogbo incident and identify those responsible, allegations against any particular political party or group should be treated with caution.
