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…Ijesaland becomes flashpoint following campaign killings, political realignment
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Although the three major contestants in the Osun State governorship election hail from the Osun West Senatorial District, serious security concerns have emerged in the Osun State East Senatorial District, particularly across Ijesaland, following a wave of killings that has characterized the zone.
Recent political developments reveal that two major heavyweights, Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Hon. Oluwole Oke, have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hailing from Obokun Local Government Area, both politicians have historically delivered massive votes for the PDP in Ijesaland, posing a major challenge for the Accord Party and other opposition camps as they attempt to secure the zone.
The intense rivalry has turned the campaign trail volatile, with the ruling and opposition parties trading accusations and counter-accusations over electoral violence.
Because the district recorded the highest number of killings during the campaign period, security agencies are expected to step up their deployment and focus heavily on the zone.
Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s poll, travellers have been trooping into the state to beat the deadline for border closures.
Police authorities announced that state borders would be shut at midnight on Friday, with personnel from the Nigerian Army deployed to man all entry points.
On the ground in Osogbo and surrounding towns, panic over potential violence forced traders to close their shops earlier than usual on Friday.
However, social life persisted in pockets, with some clubs and beer parlours remaining open as visitors gathered to unwind ahead of election day.
