Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
What was meant to be a peaceful exercise of democratic rights at the polling unit of Osun State Deputy Governor and Accord Party deputy governorship candidate, Prince Kola Adewusi, descended into chaos on Saturday, August 15, 2026, when the arrival of his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Benjamin Kayode Adereti, triggered a heated confrontation between rival supporters. The incident, which occurred during the governorship election in Ile‑Ife, briefly disrupted the otherwise calm atmosphere at the polling location and added to the tension that has marked the highly contested Osun State governorship race.
According to multiple reports, Adereti had earlier cast his ballot at his designated polling unit, Waasin Polling Unit 11, Ilaare Ward 3, before proceeding to the polling unit of the serving deputy governor. However, his presence was met with resistance from some supporters of Adewusi who were at the polling unit, resulting in a heated exchange of words and a physical altercation that briefly disrupted the voting process. While the immediate reason for Adereti’s visit and the precise trigger for the confrontation were not immediately clear, the presence of the APC candidate appeared to have unsettled some of the deputy governor’s supporters, who viewed his arrival as an unwelcome intrusion.
The situation was eventually brought under control, with no injuries or arrests recorded at the polling unit. Voting subsequently continued at the location as voters exercised their franchise in the closely contested Osun governorship election. Adereti’s camp offered no official explanation for his visit, but the move was widely interpreted as a political statement, given the high stakes of the election and the rivalry between the two deputy governorship candidates.
The clash at Adewusi’s polling unit underscores the intense political competition in Osun State, where the governorship election has been marked by allegations of violence, voter intimidation, and electoral irregularities. The election pits incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party against the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and 13 other candidates. The deputy governorship candidates, Adewusi and Adereti, have been at the forefront of their parties’ campaigns, with both playing key roles in mobilising support in their respective strongholds.
Adewusi, who expressed confidence in his party’s victory after casting his vote, praised the deployment of security personnel across the state and urged voters to remain calm and peaceful throughout the voting, counting, and collation process. He also raised concerns about the uneven arrival of INEC officials at some polling units, warning that such delays could prevent voting from starting on time. Despite the concerns, Adewusi remained hopeful of victory, stating that the party had campaigned extensively and had received strong support from voters across Osun.
The incident at Adewusi’s polling unit has drawn attention to the role of deputy governorship candidates in the electoral process and the potential for confrontation when rival candidates visit each other’s polling locations. While such visits are not uncommon, they can escalate into violence in the charged atmosphere of a closely contested election. The swift resolution of the confrontation and the resumption of voting at the location suggest that security personnel were able to restore order and prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
As the Osun State governorship election continues, the clash at Adewusi’s polling unit serves as a reminder of the fragility of the electoral process and the need for all parties to exercise restraint and respect the rule of law. The outcome of the election will be closely watched as a bellwether for the 2027 general elections, and the conduct of political actors and their supporters will play a crucial role in determining whether the process is perceived as free, fair, and credible.
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