The people of Osun will today elect a governor under a very tight security to steer the affairs of the state for the next four years. Weekend Trust reports that not less than 15,000 policemen, 10,000 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and an undisclosed number of military and state security agents were deployed to the state ahead of the election. Some sources said over 40,000 security personnel are currently in the state for the poll.

Our correspondents report a high number of military personnel stationed at strategic parts of the state capital and other local government areas since the beginning of the week.

There have been reported cases of threats, violent attacks and killings linked to the election in the past few days.

Despite incidents of political violence and killings however, the people of the state have expressed readiness to come out and vote for candidates of their choice.

Our correspondents who went round the state also report that the people did not entertain fears about coming out to vote, saying the threats and violence had not affected their resolve to cast their ballots.

Sermons at various Jumuat mosques across the state yesterday focused on the election and the need for all the stakeholders to shun violence and ensure free, fair credible election.

A prominent civil society leader in the state, Comrade Waheed Saka, said the atmosphere was peaceful, and expressed optimism that the electorate would come out in large numbers.

Saka charged security operatives to be on high alert and take necessary steps to ensure safety and boost the confidence of the electorate to come out to vote.

He said: “There would be a considerable turnout of voters considering the consciousness of the people of Osun. Security outfits should be on high alert during this election.

“The political parties have campaigned and mobilised adequately and I am confident that people are going to troop out to vote for candidates of their choice.”

A retired permanent secretary in the state, Alhaji Kayode Afolabi, also expressed hope that the electorate would be ready to vote for their choice candidates once the atmosphere is conducive at the polling centres.

Fifteen political parties are contesting in the election, but most of the activities have revolved round the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and Accord Party.

The Accord Party is fielding the incumbent, Governor Ademola Adeleke, while the APC candidate is Bola Munirudeen Oyebamiji.

Our correspondent reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed the sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to the 30 local government areas for onward movement to polling centres across the state.

Security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps have deployed their personnel across the state to ensure the safety of lives and property.

Credible election observers, including The Kukah Centre, Yiaga Africa, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) are in the state to monitor the election.

The European Union Election Observation team and the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association and other reputable bodies have also arrived in the state to observe the election.

As at yesterday, the APC and Accord kept raising allegations and counter allegations over violence, shooting and killing.

A member of APC Governorship Election Campaign Council media committee, Mr Kehinde Ayantunji, accused Accord Party leaders of harbouring political thugs at the Government House in Osogbo and shielding them from police arrest.

Ayantunji said: “We are calling the attention of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the DG of the DSS and all other security agencies that are involved, that this election is under serious threat with the behaviour of the Osun State Government.

“As I am talking to you now, we have intelligence that a large number of political thugs have been mobilised into the Government House. In the last two hours, they have been moving in and out. And our intelligence has confirmed that most of these people are not from this state.”

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information in the state, Oluoomo Kolapo Alimi, accused APC members of possessing firearms, lamenting that some of them who were arrested by the police were hurriedly released.

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, also alleged that there were attempts to attack him, saying some men were arrested with guns and he personally handed them over to the director of the DSS and demanded that they must be prosecuted.

He alleged that the suspects were released within a short period and they returned to his constituency without remorse.

“I, therefore, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and other relevant authorities to immediately investigate these allegations and make the findings public.

“I equally call on the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, election observers, diplomatic missions and credible international human right institutions to pay close attention to developments in Osun State; and where appropriate, independently document allegations of violations of citizens’ rights.

Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has said he would set up an enquiry into all the political killings during the election to ensure that perpetrators are punished, as well as compensate the families of those killed.

The governor said that immediately after the election, an independent commission of inquiry would be constituted to investigate all the reported killings and acts of violence connected to the election period.

“The commission will establish the circumstances surrounding these incidents and recommend appropriate actions to ensure that everyone responsible is brought to justice, regardless of political affiliation, position or influence.

“The government will also put in place a framework to support and compensate the families of those who lost their lives. The memories of all the victims will be appropriately honoured. The election will come and go, but we will remain one people. We owe the dead justice, their families compassion and the people of Osun a peaceful future,” the governor said.

Our correspondent reports that a total of 2,339,233 persons registered, while 1,906,390, representing 81.50 per cent, collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), according to the final figures released by INEC.

The commission said the remaining 432,843 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent of registered voters, had been safely deposited in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with its established practice.

Fifteen political parties are fielding candidates in today’s governorship election following the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala on the ballot by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The commission added Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo in compliance with a Federal High Court judgement delivered on July 22, 2026, bringing the number of parties in the race to 15. INEC subsequently reproduced the ballot papers and result sheets to reflect the addition.

The candidates are Governor Ademola Adeleke (Accord); Olanrewaju Farinloye (Action Alliance); Esan Olajide (African Action Congress); Najeem Salam (African Democratic Congress); Adeagbo Opawoye (Action Democratic Party); Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress); Adeyemi-Doro Adesina (All Progressives Grand Alliance); Adewale Adebayo (Allied Peoples Movement); Clement Adesuyi (Action Peoples Party); Adeleke Masilo (Boot Party); Taofeek Adeleke (New Nigeria Peoples Party); Saliu Oyelami (Peoples Redemption Party); Francis Olugbenga Ajala (Social Democratic Party); Ogunsakin Olalekan (Young Progressive Party) and Adefemi Adesuyi (Zenith Labour Party).

Adeleke, who won the 2022 election on the platform of the PDP, defected to the Accord Party and is now seeking re-election on its platform.

Oyebamiji, a former commissioner for finance in the state, is seeking to return the APC to power after the party lost the governorship to Adeleke in 2022.

The election is being conducted amid heightened political tension and concerns over security and possible violence, with the latest incident involving the reported killing of the nephew of the APC Campaign Council’s director-general.

The police have deployed more than 15,000 personnel and 30 commissioners of police for the election, with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police overseeing the security operation.

The INEC has also deployed 5,130 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the state’s 3,763 polling units, with 1,328 additional devices kept as backups.

The deployment has attracted attention because 5,305 BVAS machines were reportedly deployed for the 2022 governorship election across 3,753 polling units.

A statement issued on Thursday by the national commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna noted, “Out of the total of 2,339,233 registered voters in the State, 1,906,390 PVCs, representing 81.50 per cent, have been collected.”

It added that 6,101 persons who applied for replacement of damaged, defaced or lost PVCs had printed downloadable copies of their cards.

The commission urged political parties, civil society organisations, the media and residents of the state to remain confident in the electoral process, assuring them of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive election.

The poll is attracting national attention as the final off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections.

Use Osun to show how prepared you are for 2027, Tinubu tells INEC

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to use the Osun governorship election to show Nigerians that it is prepared for the 2027 general elections.

The president also tasks security agencies to ensure a peaceful and transparent election in Osun State.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu also charged the electorate in the state to come out to discharge their civic responsibility and “eschew any act that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election, while assuring the people of their safety before and after the poll.

“As the people of Osun State head to the polling units to elect who will govern them in the next four years, I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure orderly conduct of the election.

“The election must be transparent, free and fair. I urge INEC to ensure the integrity of the process,” the president stated.

Tinubu also charged INEC to use Osun to show their preparedness for the 2027 elections.

“INEC must use this last off-cycle election as a test case to demonstrate to Nigerians their full preparedness for the 2027 polls.

“I have charged the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security outfits taking part in the election to provide maximum security at polling units. No room should be allowed for troublemakers to disrupt the process.

“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so that they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation.

“Voters should feel confident to go out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice as all measures necessary to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election have been put in place.

“Our elections must be credible, and Electoral officials and voters must be protected so that they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation.

“Voters should feel confident to go out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice as all measures necessary to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election have been put in place.

“Electoral officials and voters must be protected so that they can perform their civic duties without fear or intimidation.

“Voters should feel confident to go out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice as all measures necessary to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election have been put in place.

the outcome of the Osun governorship election must reflect the will of the people,” President Tinubu declared.

intelligence that a large number of political thugs have been mobilised into the Government House. In the last two hours, they have been moving in and out. And our intelligence has confirmed that most of these people are not from this state.”