Osun Governor Appeals to President Over Election Violence Claims

With tensions escalating ahead of Osun State's August 15 governorship election, incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke has publicly appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure a free and fair process, while alleging widespread political violence and intimidation against his supporters. The governor's remarks, made at campaign rallies on August 3, have ignited a fierce political dispute with the opposition All Progressives Congress, which has dismissed his statements as desperate and unfounded.

Governor Adeleke, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the Accord Party, directly called on President Tinubu to act as the father of the nation and prevent any attempts to manipulate the upcoming poll. He warned that electoral rigging could trigger a repeat of the political crisis that engulfed southwestern Nigeria in 1983. Adeleke alleged that seven Accord Party members have been killed in the past three months, with more than 20 others suffering gunshot injuries and over 60 party members languishing in illegal police detention. He further claimed that the police force had been compromised and was collaborating with political opponents to intimidate his supporters.