Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of coordinated violence has swept across parts of Osun State, shattering the fragile peace that followed the official declaration of the governorship election results on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party the winner of the poll, suspected political thugs allegedly unleashed a reign of terror on key members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), leaving a trail of destruction across several communities. The attacks, which targeted prominent APC chieftains, their homes, vehicles and offices, have raised urgent questions about the state's capacity to maintain law and order and the willingness of political actors to accept the outcome of a free and fair election.
The violence, which was first reported by SaharaReporters and confirmed by multiple sources, spread across Ilesa, Iperindo, Atakumosa East, Modakeke and Ikire, among other areas. One of the most brazen attacks occurred in Ilesa, where the political office at Oke Omiru and the private residence of Engineer Oluremi Omowaiye, the Media Head of the APC Governorship Campaign Council and an Executive Director of the Federal Housing Authority, were heavily vandalised. A source familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters that sporadic gunshots were heard during the attack, and that the assailants were political loyalists of the Accord Party. Omowaiye's property was reportedly targeted by armed Accord Party loyalists who vandalised his properties, leaving them in ruins.
In a separate incident in Iperindo, suspected thugs invaded the residence of Omoniyi Dotun, popularly known as "Adamo," a prominent APC stakeholder. The attackers allegedly broke into his property and completely destroyed his Toyota Venza, forcing some residents of the area to flee for safety. The coordinated attacks also spread to Atakumosa East and neighbouring communities, where a prominent local figure, Adam Saka, was brutally assaulted by the rampaging thugs in Omi Odo. The residence of Hon. Garuba Ganiyu in Ajimobi Village was also targeted, and cases of violent attacks on APC members were reported in Modakeke and Ikire, the hometown of the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The post-election violence has sent shockwaves through the state, with APC sources expressing bewilderment that a party declared victorious in the polls would systematically target opposition members in what they described as "unprovoked, sustained aggression." One party source lamented: "Why would a party declared victorious in the polls systematically target opposition members in unprovoked, sustained aggression?" The traumatised residents are now raising critical questions regarding the alleged pre-election, election-day, and post-election hostilities towards their members and supporters. They warned that if the violence perpetrated by the political thugs is allowed to continue unchecked, the people of Osun State must demand accountability from the state government and the Accord Party leadership.
The attacks occurred against the backdrop of an election that was already marred by widespread violence and allegations of intimidation. According to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development's Conflict Tracker, at least 34 election-related violent incidents and 18 deaths had been recorded in Osun State since May 2026. The Nigeria Police Force separately documented at least 30 politically motivated killings in the build-up to the election, while the APC campaign alleged that twelve of its supporters were killed within 24 hours. The Accord Party also claimed eight of its members had been killed in the past week. These figures, though contested, paint a grim picture of an electoral process that was deeply scarred by violence.
The post-election violence has drawn widespread condemnation and calls for urgent intervention. Security agencies have been urged to identify and arrest those responsible for the attacks and restore calm in the affected communities. APC supporters have called on the state government and Accord Party leadership to ensure that political differences did not degenerate into further violence. In a Facebook post, Otunba Adekunle Abolade Dodoede, a radio presenter in Ikire, questioned why violence had erupted after the election had already been concluded and a winner declared. "A winner has been declared by INEC, why the unrest in my town, Ikire?" he wrote. "Political thugs now on rampage in Ikire killing and tormenting APC members up and down. Do we really need this?"
The Imole Campaign Council, Governor Adeleke's re-election organisation, has commenced a post-election review of electoral violence, directing its structures across the 30 local government areas to document victims, including those who lost their lives or sustained injuries. The council has stressed that the exercise is not party-focused and would cover every person affected by violence, regardless of their political affiliation. However, the attacks on APC members have cast a shadow over the governor's victory and raised concerns about the government's ability to protect all citizens, irrespective of their political leanings.
The post-election violence in Osun State serves as a stark reminder that the battle for political power in Nigeria often does not end at the ballot box. The attacks on APC chieftains, the destruction of property, and the brutalisation of party supporters are a damning indictment of a political culture that has yet to fully embrace the principles of democratic tolerance and peaceful coexistence. As the state grapples with the aftermath of the election, the question that now hangs over Osun is whether the violence will be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice, or whether it will be allowed to fester and erupt again in the future. The people of Osun deserve better than a democracy that celebrates victory with vengeance.
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