Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation supporting Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke's re-election bid, has raised serious concerns over alleged political violence and intimidation ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election, calling on security agencies to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and credible electoral process. In a statement issued on Sunday, August 2, 2026, and signed by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council alleged that the All Progressives Congress and its supporters were engaging in a pattern of violence and intimidation aimed at suppressing voter turnout and manipulating the outcome of the election. The campaign group urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, and other security agencies to protect the rights of citizens and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The Imole Campaign Council claimed that its independent assessment and engagements with voters across the state revealed a common sentiment among residents of Osun, who it said were prepared to vote decisively against the APC. "Our independent assessment and engagements with voters across the state reveal a common sentiment. The people of Osun are prepared to vote decisively against the APC, driven largely by widespread concerns over what many residents describe as a pattern of political intimidation, violence, and insecurity allegedly associated with actors loyal to the opposition party," the statement read. The council maintained that Governor Adeleke's administration had delivered tangible results, including prompt payment of workers' salaries, modernisation of infrastructure, revitalisation of public institutions, and investments in the welfare of the people, and that voters would reject any attempt to return the state to what it described as an era of insecurity and poor governance.
The campaign council also emphasised that the outcome of the election should reflect the will of Osun residents and not be influenced by fear or coercion. "The decision on August 15 belongs to the people of Osun State. They deserve an election that reflects their freely expressed will, not one manipulated through fear, violence, or coercion," the statement added. The council's call for security intervention comes amid heightened political tensions in Osun State, where the ruling Accord Party and the opposition APC have traded accusations of violence and electoral manipulation ahead of the crucial off-cycle governorship election.
The Osun State Governorship election is considered one of the most consequential off-cycle polls in Nigeria, with political observers closely watching the conduct of the election as a precursor to the 2027 general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured residents that the election will be free and fair, and that the commission has no preferred candidate or political allegiance. However, the Imole Campaign Council's allegations of political violence and intimidation have added to the growing concerns over the security of the electoral process, and have underscored the need for security agencies to remain vigilant and impartial in the discharge of their duties.
The APC has not yet responded to the allegations contained in the Imole Campaign Council's statement. However, the party has previously accused Governor Adeleke and the Accord Party of using state apparatus to intimidate opposition supporters and suppress dissent. As the August 15 election draws closer, the Imole Campaign Council's call for security intervention serves as a reminder of the critical role that security agencies must play in ensuring that the election is conducted in a peaceful, free, and fair manner. The people of Osun State are now watching closely to see whether the security agencies will rise to the occasion and protect the integrity of the electoral process, or whether the allegations of violence and intimidation will undermine public confidence in the outcome of the poll.
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