President Bola Tinubu has assured voters and residents of Osun State of adequate security during and after Saturday’s governorship election, urging citizens to turn out and cast their ballots without fear of intimidation or harassment.
Tinubu gave the assurance at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally in Osogbo, where the party formally presented its candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, to the electorate ahead of the August 15 poll.
The President was represented at the rally by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who conveyed assurances that security arrangements had been put in place across the state to protect voters and ensure a peaceful electoral process.
Tinubu encouraged eligible voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote freely, while urging them to make what he described as a wise choice at the ballot box.
The President also pointed to the presence of prominent APC figures, including former Osun State Governor and interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, as indications of the party’s political strength ahead of the election.
The security assurance comes against the backdrop of heightened political tension in Osun in the final hours before the election, with allegations of intimidation, violence and inflammatory statements generating concern among political parties and civil society groups.
Osun Government Takes Fadahunsi to Court
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has approached the High Court of Osun State seeking an order compelling security agencies to investigate Senator Francis Fadahunsi over alleged threats against members and supporters of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s election.
The suit, marked HOS/M.157/26, was filed on August 12 at the Osogbo Judicial Division, three days before the governorship poll.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, SAN, instituted the action against the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command. Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, was listed as the person affected or interested in the matter.
The state government said the case followed the circulation of a video purportedly showing Fadahunsi addressing a political gathering in front of the Owa Obokun’s Palace in Ilesha on August 11.
According to the court documents, the government interpreted portions of the senator’s remarks as threatening violence against Accord Party members and alleged that he encouraged supporters to confront members of the party and force them out of certain locations.
The government also alleged that the remarks included threats involving the families of Accord members and references to hotels where members of the party might be found.
However, Fadahunsi has rejected the interpretation that he was calling for physical attacks. In a clarification issued after the video generated controversy, the senator said his reference to “killing Accord” was intended to mean defeating the party with votes rather than harming its members.
Despite the denial, the controversy has triggered police action and further legal and political complaints as the state approaches the election.
Government Seeks Police Investigation, Video Authentication
In its application, the Osun Government is asking the court to compel the police to investigate the video and determine whether the statements attributed to Fadahunsi amount to criminal offences under Nigerian law.
The government is also seeking an order requiring the police to preserve, authenticate and subject the complete video to forensic examination to determine whether it has been edited or manipulated.
It further wants security agencies to take preventive measures to protect Accord candidates, members and supporters from intimidation, harassment or violence before, during and after the election.
Another relief sought by the government is for security agencies to ensure that registered voters and Accord supporters are not prevented from accessing hotels or other legitimate locations during the electoral period.
The government is also asking for a compliance report from the police within 48 hours of any order granted by the court.
In an affidavit supporting the application, Nurudeen Kareem, Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Legal Matters, said members of the Accord Party had expressed concerns about their safety and security in the period surrounding the election.
The legal action is the latest development in an increasingly tense political atmosphere in Osun, where rival parties have traded allegations of intimidation and violence ahead of the poll. Accord has separately appealed for intervention over what it described as escalating political tension in the state.
Election Tension Mounts
The controversy surrounding Fadahunsi comes as security concerns have become a major issue in the final stage of the Osun campaign.
The police have already taken steps to restrict the involvement of non-state security groups, including Amotekun, vigilante groups, hunters and neighbourhood watch organisations, in election security operations.
Fadahunsi was also invited and questioned by the Osun State Police Command over the controversial remarks, further underscoring the sensitivity surrounding political activities in the state ahead of Saturday’s vote.
With the election now hours away, attention has shifted from the final campaign rallies to the ability of security agencies to guarantee a peaceful voting process and protect voters across the state.
The contest pits incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord against APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and other candidates in what is expected to be a closely watched governorship election.
Tinubu’s assurance of adequate security, alongside the legal action by the Osun Government over the alleged inflammatory remarks, has placed security and political conduct firmly at the centre of the final preparations for the poll.
