Governor Ademola Adeleke has taken an early lead over All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji in the closely contested Osun State governorship election, according to results uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
As of the time of the report, results from 3,292 of the state’s 3,763 polling units, representing 87.5 per cent, had been uploaded. Adeleke had secured 439,132 votes, while Oyebamiji had polled 379,255 votes.
The election recorded a strong voter turnout across several parts of Osun State, but the exercise was also marked by reports of vote-buying, violence, alleged intimidation and other electoral offences.
Adeleke recorded a major victory at his own polling unit in Ward 02, PU 009, Abogunde Compound, Ede North Local Government Area, where he secured 421 votes. His supporters celebrated after the result was announced.
The governor had earlier voted at Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, and expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious.
Adeleke also defeated his political opponents at the polling units of former Osun Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore and former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
At Omisore’s polling unit in Ife East Local Government Area, Accord secured 131 votes, while the APC received 85 votes and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) scored 10 votes.
At Oyinlola’s polling unit in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, Adeleke also emerged victorious with 125 votes. The APC received 85 votes, while the ADC recorded five votes.
However, Oyebamiji secured a decisive victory at the polling unit of former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Ilesa. The APC candidate polled 256 votes against Adeleke’s 43, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam received 13 votes.
The election also generated concerns over alleged plans to declare the poll inconclusive. The Imole Campaign Council accused INEC of planning to frustrate what it described as Adeleke’s expected victory. The council called on electoral and security authorities to ensure that the results reflected the will of voters.
Vote-buying was another major concern during the exercise. Reports from some polling locations indicated that agents of major political parties monitored voters and allegedly offered financial incentives in exchange for votes.
At AUD Primary School in Atile, Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, party agents were reportedly seen around polling booths monitoring voters and their ballot papers. Reports indicated that voters were allegedly offered between N20,000 and N30,000.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) also monitored polling units in Ejigbo as part of efforts to prevent voter inducement and other electoral offences.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room similarly reported cases of vote-buying and electoral inducement. Its co-convener, Celestine Odo, said observers recorded incidents involving money, food and drinks being used to influence voters.
Security concerns also featured prominently during the election.
Police arrested a serving member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Inaolaji, alongside 143 suspected electoral mercenaries who were reportedly found at his residence in Ikire. More than 200 Permanent Voter Cards were reportedly recovered during the operation.
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had allegedly been brought into Osun State from Ondo State to participate in unlawful electoral activities.
The ADC governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, also reportedly escaped an alleged assassination attempt in Ejigbo shortly after casting his vote. His party said residents intervened and helped prevent the situation from escalating.
Salaam later said he remained confident of winning if the election was conducted freely and fairly.
Journalists covering the election in Ejigbo were also reportedly attacked, with hoodlums smashing vehicle windscreens and side screens. The incident temporarily disrupted voting in the affected area.
There was also a confrontation between supporters of the Accord Party’s deputy governorship candidate, Kola Adewusi, and APC deputy governorship candidate Benjamin Kayode Adereti at Adewusi’s polling unit in Ile-Ife. The confrontation briefly disrupted the atmosphere before calm was restored.
Adeleke’s campaign also accused security agencies of intimidation and alleged that soldiers had raided the homes of Accord Party leaders and detained some individuals. The campaign council called for security agencies to remain neutral throughout the electoral process.
The EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub reported 323 electoral infractions and 38 security incidents based on reports from 823 accredited observers deployed across all 30 local government areas of Osun State.
The observers reported 103 cases of vote trading, 85 cases of exposed ballots, 38 cases of campaigning at polling units, 31 cases of voter obstruction, 28 cases of alleged inducement of officials, 14 cases of impersonation, 12 cases of multiple voting and seven cases of official misconduct.
The observation group also reported that 58 BVAS devices, representing 7.9 per cent of those observed, malfunctioned. However, 41 of the affected devices were reportedly rectified.
Despite the challenges, the observers described voter turnout as impressive and said voting was largely peaceful and orderly in the areas monitored.
The election also drew attention to the participation of elderly voters. Eighty-year-old traditional title holder Chief Ramon Busari voted in Ejigbo and encouraged young Nigerians to participate in elections.
A 97-year-old voter, Pa Isaac Adeniran Adesanmi, also travelled to a polling unit in Obokun Local Government Area to exercise his right to vote. He urged young people to participate in elections and choose the leaders they want.
With a significant number of polling-unit results already uploaded, attention is now focused on the final results and the official declaration by INEC.
