Tension Rises Ahead of Osun State Governorship Election

Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the former Chairperson of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and an Associate Professor of Law, expressed serious concerns regarding the rising political tension in Osun State as the August 15, 2026, governorship election approaches. In a statement issued on Thursday, she warned that the current atmosphere could jeopardize the election's credibility and public trust in Nigeria's democratic process.

Akiyode-Afolabi highlighted alarming signs of potential electoral violence, including reports of over 20 fatalities linked to political unrest. She pointed to significant events such as the freezing of an Osun State Government bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the deployment of approximately 15,000 police personnel, and the arrest of Secretary to the State Government Mr Teslim Igbalaye and five others over alleged vote-buying.

Akiyode-Afolabi questioned the Nigeria Police Force's constitutional authority in investigating electoral offenses and emphasized the need for transparency and professionalism in handling such sensitive matters to maintain public confidence in the electoral process.