Violence marred the Osun State gubernatorial election on Saturday afternoon, August 15, as suspected hoodlums disrupted the voting process at Polling Unit 13, Ward 4, in the Ejigbo Local Government Area.
The abrupt attack brought an end to an exercise that had initially begun peacefully. According to eyewitnesses, the armed thugs struck shortly after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dr. Najeem Folasayo Salaam, cast his vote and departed from the location.
*Widespread Panic and Property Damage
The assailants wreaked havoc by smashing the windscreens of nearby vehicles, destroying ballot boxes, and tearing ballot papers.
The sudden outbreak of violence sent voters, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff, election observers, journalists, and civil society representatives scampering for safety.
The attackers managed to escape before joint security patrol teams—comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)—arrived at the scene.
*Voters Regroup Amid Security Response
Following the arrival of security personnel, local voters emerged from their hideouts to assess the damage.
They successfully recovered one of the disrupted ballot boxes from the scene, according to a viral video on social media.
Earlier in the day, other prominent candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Bola Oyebanji, exercised their franchise without incident at their respective polling units.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, CP Erale Samuel Etaifo, said approximately 100 criminal suspects have been placed in police custody for alleged electoral offences, ahead of of the poll.
He disclosed this during an interview, stating that the suspects—predominantly from neighboring Ondo and Ekiti states—were apprehended over the past month for allegedly intending to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the governorship election.
