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• IGP deploys DIG Ishyaku Mohammed to coordinate security operations
• Accord, CUPP demand probe of senator, Hashim warns violence instigators of Hague trial
• INEC includes SDP on ballot, reprints result sheets
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Romanus Ugwu, Molly Kilete, Okwe Obi, Abuja and Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Tension over Saturday’s Osun State governorship election escalated yesterday as the Accord Party and APC Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, traded allegations over political killings, with the party claiming 29 deaths and the senator alleging that more than 40 people had been killed in Osun East in the past year.
The development came as Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, honoured a police invitation in Osogbo over his controversial “kill Accord” remark, while the Accord Party petitioned the European Union over alleged killings, violence, intimidation and vote-buying ahead of the poll.
The police invitation followed a viral video in which Fadahunsi was allegedly heard telling supporters in Yoruba to “kill” members of the Accord Party if they encountered them during the electoral process.
The senator arrived at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo at about 2pm yesterday to clarify the circumstances surrounding the statement.
Fadahunsi has since said the remark was metaphorical and meant that his supporters should defeat Accord at the polls through lawful and peaceful means.
But the controversy has continued to fuel anxiety across the state, with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) also raising the alarm over reported killings, shootings, attacks on political gatherings and intimidation in different parts of Osun.
The organisation specifically cited the reported killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, who was allegedly hit by a stray bullet during a clash.
It also cited the reported killing of Kolade Eluyera in Irewole Local Government Area, the shooting of a political office holder in Osogbo and the killing of a political youth leader in Esa-Oke.
CISLAC, in a statement by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the incidents pointed to an increasingly violent electoral environment capable of frightening voters away from polling units.
Accord alleges 29 killed
In its petition to the EU, Accord alleged that 29 people had been killed, while several others sustained gunshot injuries in incidents linked to the political environment in Osun.
The petition, signed by the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, and addressed to the Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Migot, called for urgent diplomatic intervention to de-escalate the situation.
The party alleged political violence, intimidation, arrests, harassment, vote-buying and the deployment of state institutions and security agencies in ways it claimed had heightened tension ahead of Saturday’s election.
Accord urged the EU to publicly reaffirm the need for a free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful election, with the outcome determined by the freely expressed will of the electorate.
It also asked the EU to prevail on political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject violence, intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric, hate speech and political provocation.
The party further urged the Federal Government, security agencies and public institutions to maintain political neutrality, while calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election impartially and in accordance with the law.
Fadahunsi claims over 40 killed
But Fadahunsi, at a press conference in Osogbo, put the casualty figure considerably higher, alleging that more than 40 people had been killed in Osun East over the past year.
He further claimed that 30 APC members were killed within the last month, alleging that the violence was aimed at intimidating opposition supporters and suppressing voter turnout.
“Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of the APC, to destabilise us so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes,” Fadahunsi alleged.
The senator listed several incidents across Ijesaland, including a crisis over local government administration which he said left four people dead and 16 wounded.
He also cited the violence in Esa-Oke in April 2025, which he said claimed four lives and left 12 injured, and alleged that four of his constituents were killed by members of the Amotekun Corps in Akinlalu, with six others critically wounded.
Fadahunsi further alleged that 12 APC members were killed within 24 hours in recent attacks.
“Go to Wesley Guild Hospital; there are corpses everywhere. The former Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, and Remi Omowaiye are in the hospital instead of planning for the election,” he said.
He also accused unnamed government officials and political allies of backing cult groups to perpetrate violence.
Adeleke camp denies allegation
Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, dismissed the allegations, describing them as an attempt to divert attention from the controversy surrounding Fadahunsi’s own remarks.
Rasheed said Ijeshaland remained a stronghold of Adeleke and accused unnamed forces of attempting to create fear in the area to discourage voters.
“Ijeshaland is Governor Adeleke’s stronghold, not Osun APC stronghold. The whole world knows Governor is not a violent man who imports and arms thugs,” he said.
He alleged that the violence was intended to scare Ijesa voters away from the election but said the plan would fail.
Hashim warns of Hague action
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The allegations and controversy over the senator’s statement also drew a strong reaction from Accord presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who warned politicians inciting violence that they could face prosecution at The Hague.
Hashim said those encouraging political violence, particularly violence resulting in deaths, should be prepared to face the consequences.
He alleged that several Accord supporters had already been killed and many others wounded.
“It is not the first time APC supporters would openly incite violence. Already many Accord supporters have been killed and huge numbers wounded,” he said.
Hashim demanded action against those responsible for alleged incitement, warning that the matter could be taken to the International Criminal Court.
“Nigeria, being a signatory to the Hague Convention, must immediately arrest and prosecute the senator, failing which we shall activate the mechanism for an international arrest warrant at the Hague,” he said.
The Accord Party and the Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP) had separately demanded an investigation into the disputed video.
CUPP urged the police and Department of State Services (DSS) to establish the authenticity and full context of the recording and take lawful action if criminal culpability was established.
CISLAC raises alarm
CISLAC said its monitoring had revealed a pattern of killings, shootings, clashes, attacks on political gatherings, destruction of property and other forms of intimidation.
It expressed particular concern over alleged recruitment, financing and deployment of political thugs to intimidate voters, attack opponents and disrupt political activities.
The organisation also raised concerns over alleged vote-buying and voter inducement, warning that such practices could undermine the credibility of the election.
It called on security agencies to investigate all reported killings and electoral offences and prosecute anyone found culpable, irrespective of political affiliation.
DIG takes charge of security
Amid the rising tension, Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ishyaku Mohammed, to Osun to coordinate security operations for Saturday’s election.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, the DIG will coordinate the police component of the election security arrangement and work with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Assistant Inspectors-General and Commissioners of Police have also been deployed across the three senatorial districts.
The police said arrangements had been made to protect voters, INEC personnel, election materials, polling units, collation centres, observers and journalists.
Disu warned political actors, their supporters and other troublemakers against ballot snatching, voter intimidation, thuggery and other electoral offences.
The police also reiterated the ban on armed escorts, security aides and unauthorised persons accompanying political figures to polling units and collation centres.
With Fadahunsi now facing police questioning and rival political camps producing sharply different casualty figures, security of voters and prevention of further bloodshed have become major concerns ahead of Saturday’s election.
INEC includes SDP on ballot, reprints result sheets
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it had included the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot for Saturday’s governorship election.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.
The SDP is fielding Francis Ajala and Faseke Oladipo as its governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively.
Haruna said the commission was also reprinting ballot papers and result sheets for the election.
He said the action followed a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026 between SDP and Ajala against INEC.
Haruna said the court ordered the commission to immediately recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the governorship election.
“Consequently, the ballot papers for the election, scheduled to hold on Saturday, Aug. 15, are being reproduced to reflect this addition, bringing to 15 the total number of political parties contesting the election.
“The result sheets for the election are also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate,” he said.
Haruna said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun on August 13 and be moved the same day to the commission’s local government area offices across the state, in line with its standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.
He assured political parties, candidates and the public of the commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election in Osun.
