Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Security operatives have arrested more than 100 suspected "imported" voters in Osun State on Saturday, August 15, 2026, the morning of the state's governorship election. The suspects, who were reportedly carrying newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), were allegedly camped at the residence of Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing the Irewole-Isokan Constituency. A video circulating widely on social media shows the individuals being questioned by security operatives following their arrest.
During interrogation, Ibrahim reportedly admitted that the large group had been staying at his residence and that they were there to vote for the Accord Party in the election. The alleged discovery has raised fresh concerns over attempts to manipulate the electoral process through the movement and deployment of voters from outside their usual areas of registration. The circumstances surrounding the alleged movement of the voters—including where they came from, when they arrived, and how they obtained their PVCs—were not immediately clear.
The arrests come amid heightened political tension in Osun, with allegations of intimidation, violence, and other electoral irregularities being raised by different political actors ahead of the election. The Accord Party itself had previously accused security and other federal institutions of targeting its members and supporters ahead of the poll. In a petition dated August 12, 2026, the party's National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, appealed to the European Union to intervene in what he described as a worsening political crisis in the state.
The reported arrests come amid a tightly contested governorship race between incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, among other candidates. Security agencies have maintained a strong presence across the state as part of efforts to prevent electoral offences and ensure a peaceful and credible election. However, as of press time, it remained unclear which security agency carried out the reported arrests, the exact number of people detained, or whether any of them had been formally charged with an electoral offence. Authorities are expected to provide further clarification on the identities of those arrested and the circumstances surrounding their possession of the PVCs.
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