Osun Election Fever: Police Arrests, INEC Assurances, and Campaign Battle Intensify

The political landscape in Osun State is marked by significant tensions and accusations in the run-up to the August 15, 2026 Governorship Election, even as election bodies affirm their readiness to ensure a credible poll. At the heart of the controversy are allegations of abuse of office and intimidation leveled by Speaker Egbedun against Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan, the State Commissioner of Police.

According to Speaker Egbedun, the incidents began at an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting where Commissioner Gotan was booed by citizens. Egbedun recounted observing Gotan and the Commissioner of Police making a series of phone calls shortly after the incident, which led him to suspect an impending arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). This suspicion was confirmed when the SSG received a call informing him that police officers were waiting at his residence, prompting him to leave the event.

The Speaker further stated that the Deputy Governor, Igbalaye, later informed him of an invitation to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) based on allegations that security operatives recovered N4 million and two voter cards from his residence, reportedly belonging to members of his political party holding a meeting there. Egbedun expressed strong disapproval, questioning how such an allegation could justify the invitation or attempted arrest of a public official of the SSG's standing, deeming it a "source of concern and embarrassment to every patriotic Nigerian."

This alleged arrest, according to Egbedun, is part of a broader pattern of intimidation. He detailed a personal experience where his police orderly received a directive from Commissioner Gotan for all police officers attached to him to report for questioning. Egbedun immediately challenged Gotan, declaring his defiance against intimidation and affirming his commitment to Osun State, while reminding the Commissioner that "every act of wrongdoing attracts its own consequences." He also claimed to have received reports of officers under Gotan planning to implicate and arrest him, despite which he remains resolute, believing justice will prevail. Egbedun concluded by making a sincere appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to intervene and relieve the people of Osun State from what he described as hardship and intimidation under Commissioner Gotan's leadership.

The Osun State Police Command, however, presented a different account of the operation involving the SSG's residence. Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, stated that the police acted on intelligence reports concerning criminal suspects operating from a hideout in Osogbo. During the operation, officers recovered N4,810,500, two Permanent Voter’s Cards, a voter register, and other materials suspected of being connected to electoral offenses. Six adult suspects were arrested, and Ojelabi dismissed claims by the Adeleke campaign of more widespread detentions. Commissioner Gotan, for his part, rejected calls for his removal, asserting that only the Inspector-General of Police has the authority to determine his posting.

Adding to the political friction, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, voiced concerns over the arrest and detention of over 80 individuals reportedly linked to the Accord Party. These individuals were allegedly transported from Osun State to the Federal Capital Territory, with some subsequently transferred to correctional facilities in Keffi and Kuje. Olajengbesi called on the Nigeria Police Force to provide clarification on these arrests, which occurred as political activities intensify ahead of the election, and urged the Inspector-General of Police to ensure security agencies remain neutral and professional throughout the electoral process. He also claimed another senior official was arrested, though this remained unverified.

Amidst these controversies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared its full readiness for the August 15, 2026 Osun Governorship Election. Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, assured stakeholders of logistical, technological, and operational preparedness for a credible poll. He announced 2,339,233 registered voters across 30 LGAs, 332 wards, and 3,763 polling units, with 14 political parties participating. To ensure inclusivity, PVC collection was extended until Friday, July 31, 2026, with 322,822 (62%) of newly registered voters having collected theirs. Security agencies have been contacted to deploy patrol vehicles around collection centers.

Technologically, INEC has customized 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices for Osun, including 664 backup units. Biometric verification via BVAS will be the sole means of accreditation, with no manual alternative, and all results will be scanned and uploaded directly to the IReV portal for transparency. A mock accreditation is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, 2026, across 12 selected LGAs. INEC has also set up 97 Super RACs and 105 RACs to decentralize deployment and ensure all polling units open by 8:30 a.m. on Election Day. Professor Amupitan condemned recent attacks on INEC offices in Okuku and Ife Central where PVCs were stolen, but assured that the stolen cards are "functionally inert" without biometric verification and affected voters can use downloadable PVCs. He urged political parties to honor the Peace Accord on July 30 and called on citizens to vote peacefully, reaffirming INEC's loyalty to the Constitution and its impartiality.

The Osun State Police Command, led by CP Gotan, reiterated its commitment to ensuring adequate security before, during, and after the election. He outlined comprehensive operational strategies, including threat assessment, deployment of trained personnel, intelligence-led policing, enhanced visibility patrols, and rapid response teams, with special attention to identified flashpoints. CP Gotan warned of zero tolerance for electoral offenses like vote buying, voter intimidation, and ballot box snatching, directing officers to act firmly against violators regardless of status or political affiliation, while exercising maximum restraint. He appealed to all stakeholders for peaceful conduct, stressing that the success of the election is a shared responsibility.

Adding a political dimension to the electoral climate, the Imole Campaign Council (TICC), representing Governor Ademola Adeleke, dismissed claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, regarding the APC's electoral strength. The TICC labeled Yilwatda’s "trailer versus Keke Napep" analogy as political arrogance, asserting that elections are won by the people, not by the number of governors or political heavyweights. Hon. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the TICC Media and Publicity Committee, emphasized Governor Adeleke's "tremendous goodwill" among the people due to his administration's "visible achievements" in various sectors, contrasting this with the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, whom they described as "weak and unpopular." The TICC urged the APC to focus on issues, performance, and credible leadership rather than relying on external mobilization, underscoring that the August 15 election will be a contest of gubernatorial performance against an unpopular candidate, decided solely by the Osun electorate.