The Save Democracy Group, comprising serving members of the House of Representatives, has demanded an investigation into the violence and deaths recorded before and during the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Abubakar Kusada and Mansur Jega, the lawmakers said the lives lost must not be dismissed as part of political competition.
“The loss of Nigerian lives must not be treated as an acceptable cost of political competition”, the group said.
The lawmakers said the police had confirmed investigations into 30 suspected politically motivated killings linked to the election, while civil society organisations recorded 56 politically related violent incidents and 14 fatalities.
They also called for an independent investigation into comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, in a widely circulated video. Although Fadahunsi denied inciting violence, the group said the matter should be investigated and prosecuted if an offence is established.
The lawmakers further questioned the level of security deployed for the election, asking the Federal Government to explain the allocation of security resources to Osun amid persistent terrorist attacks, banditry and attacks on security personnel in other states.
“Security must be based on assessed risk, not political calculations”, the group said.
The group urged INEC to review the conduct of the election and address identified logistical, technological and administrative weaknesses ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also renewed its call for the National Assembly to reconvene to consider insecurity, budget implementation, the proposed State Police amendment and other urgent national issues.
