Osun Guber Battle Heats Up: PVCs, Thugs, and Police Commissioner Controversy

Osun State is bracing for its governorship election on August 15, 2026, amidst escalating security concerns, allegations of politically motivated violence, and intricate political maneuverings. The prevailing atmosphere has led to significant apprehension among residents and stakeholders, casting a shadow over the credibility and fairness of the upcoming poll.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has been vocal in its criticism, calling for the immediate redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan. The party, through its South West Zonal Organising Secretary, Comrade Wale Balogun, alleged that the current security situation has severely eroded public confidence in Gotan's ability to ensure a peaceful, free, and credible election. The SDP condemned a recent wave of politically motivated violence and killings, urging all political actors to allow 'the ballot, not the bullet,' to determine the election's outcome. Citing former President Goodluck Jonathan's stance on valuing human lives over political ambition, the party emphasized that political aspirations must never come at the cost of innocent blood. It further accused unnamed opposition parties, specifically the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC), of contributing to the insecurity and engaging in persistent blame-trading. The SDP called upon the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Police Service Commission to urgently consider the redeployment of Commissioner Gotan, stressing that confidence in the electoral process can only be restored through demonstrable neutrality, professionalism, and competence from the police command.

Adding to the security woes, reports surfaced detailing how armed police personnel allegedly escorted thugs to take over the Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife, despite a state government directive suspending all union activities in motor parks. Sources narrated incidents of gunshots and teargas deployment, creating panic. This occurred even after Governor Ademola Adeleke's order to suspend National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) activities and levy collection due to escalating violence, aiming to restore sanity. The governor had clarified that while union activities were suspended, commercial transport should continue, and anyone contravening the order would face arrest. Notably, personnel of the Nigerian Navy in Ile-Ife intervened in the Mayfair Park incident, arresting four suspected thugs found with pump-action guns. Governor Adeleke had previously expressed concern over police protection for individuals allegedly responsible for unrest, specifically calling for the arrest of 'Asiri Eniba' for 'open defiance of public security act' following earlier shootings in Osogbo motor parks.

In contrast to the security challenges, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is actively preparing for the election, announcing the composition of its National Campaign Council and several sub-committees. The council, scheduled for inauguration on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre in Abuja, will be chaired by Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma. High-profile co-chairmen include Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas. The council includes a broad representation of party leaders, governors, National Working Committee members, principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, and legislators. Specialized sub-committees have also been formed to oversee critical aspects such as election planning, finance, grassroots engagement, logistics, media, security, and the mobilization of youth, women, and persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State is pressing ahead with its preparations. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, announced that 192,702 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 37.5 percent of those distributed, had been collected. She assured voters of a peaceful, credible, and transparent election, emphasizing that every valid vote would count. INEC has identified flashpoints across the state, including areas prone to thuggery and communal violence, and has shared this information with security agencies for proactive deployment. The commission is collaborating closely with security forces and has recruited ad hoc staff, with training set to commence soon. A mock accreditation exercise is scheduled for August 1 in four local government areas to test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). Addressing concerns about reported factionalization within transport unions, the REC stated that INEC was unaware of any factions introduced to the commission and was dealing solely with the national body's Director of Organisation, considering it an internal affair of the union.

Various stakeholders have joined the call for peace and integrity in the electoral process. A member of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Sunday Smith, urged INEC to prioritize assistive materials for PWDs and ensure adequate training for ad hoc staff. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, representing CP Ibrahim Gotan, assured of new security strategies but disclosed no arrests had been made over recent developments in Odo-Otin Local Government Area. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Deputy Commandant, Afuye Kikelomo, warned against electoral malpractice. Traditional rulers, including the Akire of Ikire-Ile, Oba Azeez Olatunbosun, and the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye, appealed to political actors to embrace peace, fairness, and respect for the rule of law. Similarly, religious leaders, such as the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osun State, Rev. John Adeleke, and the Grand Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh Musa Muhammad Robiu Animashaun, urged citizens to maintain peace, vote freely, and reject vote-buying, encouraging active participation from educated citizens. The SDP also urged voters not to succumb to intimidation or vote-buying and to reject politicians found to have encouraged or benefited from political violence.