Explosive Osun Election: Police Summon Senator, Atiku Warns of Militarization and Violence

The gubernatorial election in Osun State, scheduled for August 15th, has become a focal point of intense political contention, marked by widespread violence, accusations among political parties, and significant concerns over electoral integrity and the role of federal institutions. Political leaders across various parties have voiced their apprehensions, reflecting a volatile atmosphere ahead of the polls.

Violence has been a prominent and disturbing theme leading up to the election. Barrister Felix Morka, the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), strongly condemned the violence in Osun, emphasizing that his party neither encourages nor participates in such acts. He called for those responsible for perpetrating or inciting violence to be brought to justice, expressing confidence in the APC's record. Morka notably shifted greater responsibility to Governor Ademola Adeleke, as the state's Chief Security Officer, for ensuring a peaceful electoral environment. He alleged that Adeleke had not adequately reined in his supporters, whom he claimed were also involved in violent acts, stressing that the violence was not one-sided.

Echoing these concerns, the Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adebayo Adewole, called on President Bola Tinubu and the APC to expel members promoting violent political rhetoric, warning of collective responsibility if they failed to act. Adewole condemned the use of violent language, particularly comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, which he likened to incitement seen in historical conflicts like the Rwandan genocide. He alleged that more than 40 people had lost their lives in Osun State due to political violence, urging President Tinubu to take responsibility and clearly state that such language and violence would not be tolerated, especially as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

The Osun State chapter of the APC, through its spokesperson Kola Olabisi, also reported specific incidents of violence, alleging that Dele Ayegbo, nephew of the party's campaign director-general Wole Oke, was shot dead in Esa-Oke by suspected Accord Party hoodlums. Olabisi claimed over 30 APC members had been killed by political thugs across the state since 2022, with a significant number in Ijesaland, and accused the state government of silence, which he said encouraged further violence. The police had not confirmed this killing at the time of report filing.

A significant controversy arose from remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District. He was summoned by the Osun State Police Command over a viral comment allegedly urging supporters to "kill" members of the Accord Party during an APC campaign in Ilesa. The video showed Fadahunsi saying, "From now on, whenever you see Accord members, kill them. I authorise you to kill them. They have wives and children too." Following widespread backlash, his team clarified that the statement was "purely political and metaphorical," an appeal for voters to "kill Osun Accord with votes, not violence" through lawful and democratic means.

The integrity of the election process and the involvement of federal institutions also drew sharp criticism. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for 2027, warned against the militarization of the Osun election, arguing that deploying state institutions for partisan advantage was unacceptable. He described the security presence as resembling "war zone" conditions, questioning why such resources were not used against national security threats like Boko Haram and bandits. Atiku stressed that "Osun is a test" for Nigeria’s capacity to conduct credible elections and urged INEC and security agencies to remain neutral, ensuring free and fair polls where every vote counts.

Furthermore, Atiku raised critical concerns about the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) being used in the Osun election. He highlighted that the BVAS ran on Android version 10, an outdated operating system that reached its end-of-life in 2023, making it vulnerable to cyber and operational risks. He warned that this could allow hackers to bypass the application, alter voter logs or results, and increase the risk of "Man-in-the-Middle" attacks during result transmission. He called for an independent audit of BVAS devices to safeguard election integrity.

The broader political landscape, including President Bola Tinubu’s influence, also faced scrutiny. Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC's national publicity secretary, expressed concern over the "militarization" of Osun and directly blamed President Bola Tinubu's remark that "all is fair in politics" for creating an atmosphere that could encourage extreme political measures. Abdullahi claimed to have intelligence of a plan to arrest Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola before the election, viewing it as an attempt to assert presidential power rather than allow voters free choice.

In addition to electoral integrity, discussions touched on the President's personal records and economic policies. Atiku Abubakar questioned President Tinubu's Chicago State University certificate, citing alleged discrepancies in dates, signatures, and degree descriptions, and invoked constitutional provisions for disqualification based on forged certificates. Meanwhile, Felix Morka (APC) defended President Tinubu's economic record, dismissing claims of worsening poverty and insisting that macroeconomic indicators were improving, which would eventually lead to better living conditions. He characterized Tinubu's reforms as difficult but necessary steps to address decades-old problems.

Conversely, Bolaji Abdullahi (ADC) strongly refuted the APC's economic narrative, citing a World Bank report indicating 79 million Nigerians were on the verge of starvation. He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would lose the 2027 election due to widespread economic hardship, even if a broad opposition coalition failed to materialize. Adebayo Adewole (SDP) also advocated for institutional reforms, proposing that INEC and law enforcement agencies be made independent of government control, with key appointments like the INEC chairman and Attorney-General of the Federation not being personally chosen by the president, to ensure fair elections and a civilized society.

Amidst these political exchanges, Dr. Sam Amadi of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought observed that the Osun election debate had largely shifted from focusing on the state's development to issues of "winning and electoral advantage." He noted that concerns about securing votes, political influence, and security overshadowed discussions on actual governance, such as road construction or the incumbent administration's performance, making electoral victory the dominant focus rather than public interest. This highlights a critical challenge for Nigeria's democratic process, where the Osun election stands as a significant test case for future electoral credibility.