OSOGBO, Nigeria — Fresh concerns over security have emerged in Osun State, six days before the August 15 governorship election, following claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord Party that a combined 18 of their members have been killed during the build-up to the poll.
The reported deaths, alongside a series of shootings, attacks on political supporters, clashes and alleged assassination attempts, have heightened concerns over the safety of voters, election officials and political party members as the state prepares for the governorship election.
Several locations, including Osogbo, Ede, Ile-Ife, Oriade, Ijebu-Ijesha, Ilobu and Ikire, have emerged as areas of concern following reported incidents of political violence. The security situation has also generated debate over the deployment of 15,000 police personnel to the state for the election.
The violence reportedly began months before the election. In May, an Accord Party member, Kolade Eluyera, was killed in Irewole Local Government Area. The party attributed the incident to alleged APC supporters, a claim rejected by the APC. On June 3, Accord chairman in Osogbo Local Government Area, Asimiyu Ajibola, was shot by gunmen and subsequently received medical treatment.
Another Accord supporter, Ajayi Rogba, was reportedly killed in Esa-Oke during the period of heightened political activities. The incident again resulted in accusations between the rival political camps, with Accord supporters alleging political involvement while APC members denied responsibility.
Campaign activities in Ede, Osogbo and other parts of the state have also reportedly been disrupted by clashes, shootings and attacks on campaign convoys, increasing concerns that political disagreements could escalate into further violence before and after the election.
The Kimpact Development Initiative reportedly recorded 44 election-related violent incidents resulting in 13 fatalities in Osun between October 2025 and June 2026. However, the combined figure of 18 deaths claimed by the APC and Accord has not been independently established as a single death toll.
The APC campaign council claimed that at least 10 of its members had been killed during the campaign period. Speaking on behalf of the council chairman, Kehinde Ayantunji said the party was less concerned about the number of security personnel deployed than their professionalism, equipment and ability to protect voters and ensure a credible election.
Ayantunji said the reported deaths occurred in communities including Ilesa, Iwo, Osogbo and Ijebu-Jesa. He stressed that no election was worth the loss of human life and urged security agencies to ensure that every eligible voter could cast a ballot without fear.
The Accord Party, meanwhile, claimed that about eight of its members had been killed since the beginning of the campaign. Its Media Director, Oladele Bamiji, cited reported incidents in Oriade, Ijebu-Jesa, Ilobu, Ikire and Osogbo, describing the situation as frightening and unacceptable.
Bamiji also questioned whether the deployment of 15,000 police officers would be sufficient, considering that Osun has close to 4,000 polling units. He called for adequate security coverage to protect voters and electoral materials while urging other security agencies to complement the police deployment.
The heavy police presence has, however, divided civil society groups. The Osun Masterminds described the deployment as excessive and warned that it could amount to the militarisation of the electoral process.
The group’s spokesperson, Ayo Ologunde, argued that deploying such a large number of police officers could create fear among voters, discourage participation and leave neighbouring states with fewer personnel to respond to conventional security threats.
Ologunde also questioned the financial cost of the deployment, arguing that resources spent on election allowances could instead be directed towards infrastructure and other developmental needs.
Other stakeholders have supported the deployment, however. The Convener of Dialogue 365, Saka Waheed, said the security presence was necessary given the violence already recorded across the state. He argued that citizens had demanded protection and should therefore welcome measures designed to prevent further killings.
Waheed said additional personnel could be deployed if necessary, provided their presence was aimed at protecting voters and ensuring a peaceful election.
Former Osun lawmaker Olatunbosun Oyintiloye also backed the deployment, suggesting that the decision could have been informed by security intelligence available to the Federal Government. He said heavy security deployments were common during elections and should not necessarily be interpreted as a cause for alarm.
Oyintiloye nevertheless urged security agencies to act decisively against violence and called for greater public sensitisation to encourage voters to participate without fear.
With the August 15 election only days away, attention is now focused on how security agencies will manage areas identified as potential flashpoints. Stakeholders have urged political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint, while calling on security personnel to protect voters, electoral officials and democratic processes without intimidating the electorate.
