By BONIFACE AKARAH

With just two days to Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria has raised the alarm over escalating political threats, intimidation and reported violence, warning that the contest must not place voters in danger.

The civic organisation said the concerns were particularly troubling against the backdrop of 44 election-related violent incidents recorded in Osun between October 2025 and June 2026, resulting in 13 fatalities, according to data from the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).

EiE said the situation had worsened in the final weeks of the campaign, noting that 26 of the 44 incidents occurred in May and June alone.

The organisation expressed particular concern over recent incidents involving political actors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party.

It cited a video involving Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, in which remarks made during a campaign event in Ilesa were interpreted as threats against Accord Party members.

According to EiE, the Osun State Police Command subsequently invited Fadahunsi for questioning before releasing him.

The senator’s media office reportedly described the remarks as a “political metaphor” for defeating Accord at the polls. EiE, however, said Fadahunsi himself described the video as AI-generated, raising questions over the conflicting explanations.

“On the other hand, Senator Fadahunsi described the video as AI-generated, so which is it? A political metaphor or an AI-generated video?” EiE asked.

The organisation also raised concerns over remarks allegedly made by Francis Eniade, the APC candidate for Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, at a campaign rally, where he was recorded warning Accord Party members against voting in Odo-Otin Local Government Area on election day.

EiE said the remarks prompted Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Egbedun to petition the Inspector-General of Police over alleged threats arising from the incident.

It further said there were reports and images alleging that Eniade was subsequently attacked in an incident linked to the Speaker’s camp, with claims of injuries and damage to vehicles.

According to EiE, the combination of alleged threats, voter intimidation and retaliatory violence creates a dangerous atmosphere in the final hours before the election.

“No political competition should put citizens in a position where they must choose between exercising their right to vote and their personal safety,” the organisation said.

EiE called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to investigate all reported threats, intimidation and violence impartially, including allegations involving Fadahunsi, Eniade and other political actors.

It also urged the security leadership in Osun to use the remaining 48 hours before the election to de-escalate tensions and provide adequate security for voters, election personnel, polling units, election materials, as well as the counting and collation of results.

The organisation similarly called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide clear and timely information on voting and collation arrangements, particularly in areas where political tensions have been reported.

Political parties, candidates and their supporters, it said, must immediately reject threats and violence and direct their supporters, agents and political networks to respect every citizen’s right to vote.

“The August 15 election must be decided by voters, not by threats, intimidation or violence,” EiE said.

The organisation also urged Osun voters not to allow intimidation to keep them away from the ballot, stressing that no candidate, political party or supporter has the right to determine whether or for whom a citizen votes.

EiE advised voters to confirm their polling units and plan their movement ahead of Saturday’s election, directing them to gotomypu.com for polling-unit locations and directions.

As part of its election observation effort, EiE said it would deploy trained citizen observers across Local Government Areas in Osun to monitor the process before, during and after voting.

The observers, according to the organisation, will pay particular attention to voter access, intimidation and violence, polling-unit procedures, counting and collation of results.

“EiE Nigeria will continue to observe, document and speak up throughout the electoral process,” the organisation said.

With the state heading into the final stretch before Saturday’s poll, the organisation’s warning places renewed focus on whether security agencies and political actors can prevent the existing tensions from escalating into violence — and ensure that Osun voters can determine the outcome of the election freely and safely.

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