A supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esa-Oke in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Ayegbo Oluwadele, was yesterday gunned down and another was shot.
The incident added to the growing concerns over violence ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state
Oluwadele was said to have been shot dead around the Oluwole Oka family compound in Esa-Oke.
Another APC supporter, Taiwo Oluwadele, was also shot during the incident and was said to be in critical condition.
Ayegbo was the nephew of the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Busayo Oluwole Oke, who is a member of the House of Representatives.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the killing when contacted by our correspondent.
He, however, declined comment on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council, Oluremi Omowaye, confirmed the attack, disclosing that members of rival political parties were behind the violence against APC supporters in different parts of the state.
“Unfortunately, we lost Ayegbo Oluwadele. Another member of our party; while Taiwo is still in a very critical condition.
“It is sad that we are being killed while the governor is playing the victim’s card. As I speak, we have lost about 40 of our members, and nothing has been done to stop this.
“A few days ago in Ilesha, it was alleged that one of the prisoners released by the government was responsible for the killing in Ilesha.
“Five people were shot. Four of them died, while one is in critical condition at the Teaching Hospital. One of them is still in the ICU. And what was their offence? They were putting on APC caps.”
He listed three other APC members whom he said were also attacked in Atakumasa East Local Government Area as Idowu Laide, Ebuke Emmanuel, Adebiyi Ebeneezer.
A chieftain of the APC, Mr Kehinde Ayantunji, also accused a leading member the state House of Assembly of attacking APC members in Odo-Otin Local Government area of the state and on the House of Representatives candidate of the party, Francis Eniade, in front of Okuku Divisional Police Station, you can see the effrontery.”
He also alleged that five people were shot in Ilesa a few days ago, with four of them dying while one remained in critical condition at a teaching hospital.
According to him, the victims were allegedly attacked because they were wearing APC caps.
Omowaye further alleged that three APC members in Atakumasa East Local Government Area – Idowu Laide, Ebuke Emmanuel and Adebiyi Ebeneezer – were also attacked.
However, the Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, denied the allegation that members of the Accord Party attacked APC supporters.
NBA confirms 29 deaths in 73 attacks
The president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, also appealed to security personnel deployed for Saturday’s election to remain neutral and perform their statutory duties without favouring any political party.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo yesterday, Osigwe said security personnel should protect INEC officials, voters and other participants in the electoral process.
He said the election should produce an outcome capable of restoring confidence in the electoral process and disproving predictions of violence.
Osigwe said available data indicated that about 73 election-related violence incidents had been reported; while about 29 people had been killed between May and July.
“Many policemen, civil defence, correctional officers, NDLEA and other paramedics and soldiers have been deployed to Osun State. While we appreciate the work they are doing and the work they are statutorily required to do, we will also use this opportunity to plead with them to be neutral.
“They should only carry out their statutory duties and not use their presence to aid any party, but to ensure the security of the INEC officials and every other person, voters and every person who has a role to play in the electoral process. The whole world is watching,” he stated.
He said the spate of attacks recorded in the build-up to the election is worrisome, urging political gladiators to put an end to the violence.
“Recent incidents in the state made it imperative that we start this election observation earlier than Saturday. Statistics show that there were about 73 reported election violence-related incidents. “Also, one report has reported a death toll of about 29 between May and July.
“And there has been more violence, which appears to have intensified. Unfortunately, there have been threats issued by some people. So there is a need for us to use this opportunity not only to speak against violence, but to urge those who, by their actions, will incite violence.
“From all the feedback and all the reports we have got, the violence that has taken place in Osun State and which is related to this election is not spontaneous. They are orchestrated; they are planned and coordinated,” he said.
He said Osogbo and Ilesa have emerged as flash points where over 50 percent of the reported violence occurred, noting that while some of the incidents were being described as cult-related, they also appear to be related to clashes between political parties.
The NBA president stated: “Most of the violence from the reports we have received, over 50% of the violence took place in Osogbo, and the more recent violence was in Ilesa. So, these two places are beginning to look like two flash points in this election.
“We need to make that point clear that violence should not, in any form or guise, be used to intimidate voters into staying away or being disenfranchised or to cause a lack of integrity in the electoral process.”
Violence has gone beyond limits – YIAGA Africa
The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, said the violence recorded ahead of the election had become a major concern, noting that more than 35 deaths had been recorded in the build-up to the poll.
Itodo said the election was strategically important because it was the last off-cycle election before the 2027 general elections and would provide an opportunity to test some of the innovations introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the election had, however, been “signposted by pre-election violence”.
“We have recorded over 35 deaths just in the buildup to this election. And all of these are just connected to the elections,” he said.
Itodo expressed concern over statements by political actors that could fuel tension and urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint.
He said although Osun elections had historically been associated with tension, the situation this time appeared to have gone beyond previous levels.
He also expressed concern over the neutrality of security agencies during the election.
According to him, YIAGA Africa recently met with the Inspector-General of Police, who assured the organisation that officers would remain professional and neutral.
He said the Osun governorship election “is an opportunity to test every new policy or any innovation that INEC is introducing in the electoral process, for instance, the downloadable PVCs as envisioned in the electoral act are now going to be deployed for the first time in this election.
“You have also seen the earlier statements from political, senior political actors who should observe restraint and using all sorts of threats and intimidation. And, you know, urging people to undermine the dignity of a human person by killing people just because they share a different political belief. Now, that is unacceptable,” he stated.
He said though historically, Osun elections have been accompanied by tension, “this particular time, they seem, especially the actors, seem to have gone above board.”
He added that one of the major concerns is the role of security agencies and whether they will be neutral in managing the security of this election.
He, however, said there is hope that the challenges could be managed successfully if the necessary things are done.
“Last week we met with the IG of police, and he gave his assurances, and even read the Riot Act to protect police officers. That is a policy statement from the number one, we trust him, we give him the benefit of doubt.
“But then at the operational level, we hope that the police officers, will uphold the directive of the IG, and ensure that they are professional and they are neutral in the management of security for this election.”
He said from his observation, INEC has demonstrated preparedness for this election.
Accord Party alleges presence of Ebonyi REC in Osun
Meanwhile, the Imole Campaign Council of Governor Ademola Adeleke yesterday alleged presence of the Ebonyi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Pauline Ugoyenka, in Osun.
In a statement by its chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Bamidele Salam, the council alleged that Ugoyenka was not among the RECs officially deployed to Osun for the election.
Bamidele, who is a member of the House of Representatives, described her as an ICT expert and alleged that she was a close confidant of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
“The INEC letter dated August 3, 2026, addressed to RECs from 15 contributing states, clearly identifies the officials and states providing supervision contingents for Osun. Ebonyi State is conspicuously absent from the list.
“So, who authorised Mrs Pauline Ugoyenka’s presence in Osun, and what exactly is she doing here?” the council asked adding that INEC must immediately explain her role, authority and activities in Osun and publish the full list of all officials deployed for the election.
“We call the attention of the National Chairman of INEC to this ugly development where a REC chooses to leave her place of posting for an hatchet job in another geo-political zone.
“We demand immediate exit of the Ebonyi REC as she was not posted here for any official duties and her presence constitutes grave danger to the electoral health of Osun people”, Bamidele said.
INEC deploys 15 RECs, says 1.9m PVCs collected
The INEC yesterday said it had deployed 15 RECs to support the conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, told Daily Trust that each REC would support the supervision of two local government areas.
Haruna said the commission was fully prepared for the election, adding that all necessary arrangements had been concluded apart from the reprinting of ballot papers.
“Well, we are ready. We are set to go. You are aware that we will have to reprint the ballot papers. Other than that, everything is in place,” he said.
He said the national commissioners and other senior officials of the commission would also be involved in monitoring the election, with the relevant departments coordinating operations from the commission’s situation room, adding that the commission’s directors and other officials would monitor the exercise until the results are declared.
Haruna also clarified that the deployment of the 15 RECs was not an unusual arrangement, saying the commission routinely deploys what it calls “supporting ranks” for elections.
He said the practice was standard for off-cycle elections and by-elections, although the number of supporting commissioners deployed could vary depending on the particular election.
“It’s a standard practice. Every election, except the general election, because that one, everybody is on his own,” Haruna said, adding that supporting commissioners were also deployed for by-elections.
“The only difference is the number. Because this time, we are deploying 15,” he said.
He stated: “The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, across the state’s 30 local government areas. “INEC’s official election calendar confirms August 15 as the date of the poll.
“No fewer than 2,339,233 registered voters are expected to participate in the election, with voting to take place in 3,763 polling units across the state. The election is being contested by 15 political parties.
As part of its preparations, INEC has increased the number of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices to be deployed for the election from 4,427 used as a reference point in 2022 to 5,130 machines for Saturday’s poll. The commission has also provided 1,328 backup BVAS devices.
“The deployment means that the commission will have more than one BVAS device available for every polling unit, with the backup machines intended to provide contingency support in the event of equipment failure,” he said.
He said the commission would continue to monitor the process from its situation room while ensuring that all relevant departments and officials remain involved until the final results are declared.
Haruna, in a statement later yesterday, disclosed that 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected by registered voters ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
He said the figure represents 81.50 per cent of the 2,339,233 registered voters in the state.
He said the remaining 426,842 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent of the registered voters, had been safely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with its established practice.
He also said that some registered voters whose PVCs were damaged, defaced or lost had applied for replacement.
Haruna said 6,101 of those who applied for replacement had printed downloadable copies of their PVCs.
He said the commission had also published a polling unit-by-polling unit table showing the PVCs collected across the state on its official website.
Another National Commissioner of the INEC, who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday on condition of anonymity, said he was not aware of the names of the Resident Electoral Commissioners deployed for the Osun governorship election.
The commissioner, when asked to react to the allegation concerning the Ebonyi State REC, said he had no comment on the matter.
Efforts to obtain further clarification from the INEC were unsuccessful as telephone calls and WhatsApp messages to the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi and the Deputy Director, Publicity, Wilfred Osilama, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.