Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The sun rose over Osun State on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as over 1.9 million registered voters began filing into 3,763 polling units across 30 local government areas to decide who would govern the state for the next four years. The election, an off-cycle governorship poll, has been narrowed to a two-horse race between incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. But the road to this day has been stained with blood and marred by accusations of violence, intimidation, and deep distrust in the electoral process.
The stakes could not be higher. With 2,339,233 registered voters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected, an 81.5 per cent collection rate. The remaining 432,843 PVCs are with the Central Bank of Nigeria. INEC, which faced a last-minute legal challenge to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate on the ballot, assured the public of its readiness to conduct a credible election. The commission deployed 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices to ensure transparent accreditation.
While 15 candidates are officially contesting the election, the race has effectively narrowed to Adeleke and Oyebamiji. Governor Adeleke, seeking a second term, is banking on his administration's record, which he says includes infrastructural development and a leap in educational performance, moving Osun from 33rd to 7th in WAEC rankings. His campaign, buoyed by the support of his nephew, Afrobeats superstar Davido, has focused on continuity and protecting the gains of the past three and a half years.
Oyebamiji, a former commissioner and technocrat, is running on a platform of economic revival and has the backing of the federal might, including President Bola Tinubu. Other notable contenders include Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who has promised to create 20,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office.
The campaign period was overshadowed by a wave of political violence that raised serious questions about the safety of voters and the impartiality of security agencies. According to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development's Conflict Tracker, at least 34 election-related violent incidents and 18 deaths were recorded in Osun State since May 2026. The Nigeria Police Force documented at least 30 politically motivated killings, while the APC and Accord parties have published their own casualty figures, with the APC alleging that 12 of its supporters were killed within 24 hours.
The violence was particularly acute in Ilesa, where rival cult groups clashed and political actors traded accusations of murder. In a particularly disturbing incident, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, was captured in a viral video allegedly urging his supporters to "kill" members of the Accord Party. Fadahunsi later clarified that he meant "kill with votes," but the damage was done. Amnesty International Nigeria has vowed to make him an example in its campaign against impunity and inflammatory rhetoric.
In response to the pre-election violence, security agencies launched a massive operation to secure the state. Over 40,000 security personnel, including 15,000 police officers, 10,000 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and an undisclosed number of military and state security agents, were deployed across the state. The police announced a 42-hour restriction of movement, effectively locking down the state to prevent the movement of thugs and the disruption of the electoral process. Helicopters and drones were deployed for aerial surveillance, while 31 Commissioners of Police were stationed across the 30 local government areas. The police also banned the use of armed escorts by politicians and VIPs, and prohibited quasi-security agencies like Amotekun from participating in election duties. Security agencies were on high alert, with the police vowing to deal decisively with anyone attempting to disrupt the election.
As the day progresses, the eyes of the nation are fixed on Osun State. The outcome of this election will not only determine who governs the state for the next four years but will also serve as a bellwether for the 2027 general elections. It will test the resilience of Nigeria's democracy and the ability of its institutions to conduct a credible election in the face of violence and intimidation. For the people of Osun State, it is a moment to reaffirm their commitment to democratic values and to demonstrate that the power ultimately belongs to them. As the votes are counted, the hope is that the will of the people, not the bullet, will prevail.
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