With weeks to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, a wave of violence has overshadowed electioneering across several local government areas in the state.

The Peoples Gazette examines incidents between October 2025 and July 2026, noting that casualties were recorded across several areas in the state.

Senseless killings, destructions

The Gazette observed that deadly clashes range from shootings, arrests of political supporters and attacks during campaigns surge as election draws closer.

On Wednesday, two Osun residents loyal to the All Progressive Congress (APC) were brutally killed while others were injured in the state capital Osogbo. 

The violence, which authorities are investigating, occurred amid political tensions between supporters of the APC and Accord Party.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, in a bid to douse tension, visited the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, and expressed concerns over the killings, clashes and political tensions ahead of the government poll.

“I’m here because of the situation Osun State is turning into,” the IG said.

On June 25, 2026, Kimpact Development Initiative (KI), in a statement condemned the rising pattern of violence, intimidation, property destruction and insecurity across Osun State as political parties prepare ahead of the off-cycle election. 

The group stated that its pre-election observation and violence monitoring activities documented 44 election-related violent incidents across the state between October 2025 and June 2026. 

The Gazette understands that the incidents claimed 13 lives, left survivors with varying degrees of injury, destroyed property, and heightened fear among residents. 

The police command earlier arrested a suspect linked to the killing of 14-year old Ezekiel Olapade in the Irepodun area of the state during a clash with Accord members over control of the state.

On June 29, the police paraded 24 suspects in connection with cultism and thuggery to tackle cult-related violence and ensure security ahead of the poll.

“The command is fully aware of the recent cult-related killings and acts of thuggery threatening the peace of the state, some of which have been given political undertones,” the state commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, said during a press briefing.

The campaign office of Accord Party in Osogbo, came under attack twice within two weeks for political reasons. Reports stated that gunmen allegedly shot indiscriminately at the building, shattering glass windows and damaging several offices.

In a statement, the national chairman of Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbuden, said the attackers inscribed “say no to automatic ticket” on the wall of the buildings. 

Due to continued violence, killings and intimidation, the party called for the immediate removal of the state CP for allegedly failing to curb violence and protect voters ahead of the election. But the CP noted his neutrality and efforts to curb political violence and crimes in the state.

The party’s national publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, also linked the attacks on its members and supporters to thugs sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC)

Residents’ safety concerns

Some of the residents who spoke to The Gazette expressed concern over their safety on Election Day.

One of them is a resident of Osogbo, Abraham Asiyanbi, who said the non-assurance of adequate security during the forthcoming governorship election would ignite voter apathy.

Mr Asiyanbi said fear and tension remained high in parts of the state which had witnessed political violence. 

He added that the situation had been largely calmed only by police presence and peace meetings by some stakeholders.

Mr Asiyanbi stated, “There is serious fear, but I think it is not the same everywhere in the state. There is high tension and panic, especially in places where clashes have occurred. People do not even know whom to trust for protection. What is slightly calming the tension and fear, I think, is the police and stakeholders holding peace meetings. But do people trust them?

“Lately, there have been growing concerns about political violence ahead of the forthcoming election in the state, particularly in some towns and the state capital. In Osogbo, two people were allegedly killed and 19 vehicles were vandalised during clashes at rallies and solidarity walks. These attacks, intimidation and violence between political actors increased instead of reducing.

“These incidents raise questions about the effectiveness of the state’s security forces. Most of these incidents involve supporters of the leading political parties. This is a political contest and I think that if proper security measures are not put in place, it will increasingly put the lives of citizens at risk.”

He recommended measures such as prompt intervention of security agencies to tackle unrest, arrest of violence perpetrators, swift prosecution of suspects and the cooperation of all residents in the state to combat political violence.

Mr Asiyanbi stated, “The state government should direct the security forces in the state to increase their presence in areas where is violence. This will help to calm tension and panic and ensure a peaceful election. They should respond promptly to reports of violence, arrest anyone involved in political thuggery regardless of political affiliation and ensure that prosecution follows. Political parties should prioritise peaceful campaigns. Citizens should also report any suspicious activities to the authorities.”

Another resident, Faith Adeniran, based in Ejigbo, expressed concern about how some residents in the state failed to treat political violence as a serious concern.

“Many have come to see the issue as a norm until they happen close enough to warrant fear,” he said.

He stated that security agencies and the state government failed to effectively curb the widespread of violence in the state.

Mr Adeniran stated, “The issue of violence in Osun is really saddening, as I cannot remember the last time there were cases of such brutal violence ahead of an election in the state. There have been cases of murder linked to political reasons since May, with both the APC and Accord Party exchanging blame. It is really appalling that security operatives have not done enough to curb these incidents.”

Mr Adeniran said the responsibility of protecting lives and property rested with the government, noting that the feud between the state governor and the state’s commissioner of police worsened the security situation in the state.

“The duty of securing lives and property is the primary responsibility of the government and it must rise to the occasion. There have been reports of disunity between the governor and the state commissioner of police. This has contributed to the current security situation in the state.”

Mr Adeniran said political thuggery was still dominant in the state despite efforts of security agents to check criminal activities.

He noted, “There has been a recent report of the mass arrest of members of a cult group. While this is commendable, political thuggery must also be addressed. These individuals still follow political campaign vehicles across the state, which only points to the fact that violence may still be imminent

“If the security agencies are truly serious about their duties, they must remain vigilant at all political gatherings until the end of the election.”

He said stakeholders must work together to ensure that the conduct of the election does not breach public peace or endanger lives and property.

“This is not the time to exchange blame, and I believe that all parties involved, including the government and security operatives, must work together to curb the situation,” Mr Adeniran said.

Flashpoints, difficult terrains

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identified dangerous terrains that would be inaccessible to its officers ahead of the election.

“We identified 385 flashpoints in the state, which have been shared with the security agencies. We also identified difficult terrains to guide their operations, because there are still places in the state that are not motorable and cannot be easily accessed,” the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, said.

“We identified about 200 such areas, and we have been training our staff on how to manage themselves and maintain peace. I have visited 29 out of the 30 local government areas in the state,” said Ms Babalola.

The Gazette noted that repeated violence is noticeable in locations such as Irepodun, Osogbo, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Ife Central, Ife East, Ede North, Ede South, Boripe and Odo Otin. 

Some of the affected local government areas are politically strategic and recorded election related violence, cult activities and clashes between rival party supporters in previous election cycles. 

The Gazette also understands that Osogbo, Ede, Ife and Ilesa account for a significant share of the state’s voting population, with the areas becoming battlegrounds for political parties.

The table below reflecting the state’s 2022 governorship poll highlights the voting population and pattern in these areas.

Some of the areas fall under the flashpoints identified by the INEC. However, some of the eligible voters interviewed by our reporters said that there may be voter apathy across the 30 LGAs during the August 15 governorship poll.

Though about 14 political parties are fielding candidates in the election, observers are of the view that the contest is between the second-term seeking Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party who detected from the Peoples Democratic Party amid its internal crisis and the ex-managing director/chief executive officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, of the APC.

Minister of marine and blue economy and ex-governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, who shares biological ties with President Bola Tinubu, is one of the party leaders in the state said to be backing Mr Oyebamiji.

However, it remains to be see if security agents will contain the political violence threatening the poll.