Politics
Osun 2026: Rising Violence Sparks Fear of Voter Apathy Ahead of Gov Poll
Residents of Osun State have expressed concern that escalating political violence and killings ahead of Saturday’s governorship election could discourage voters from turning out to exercise their franchise.
Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday also questioned whether the election would be peaceful, free and credible, without disruption, inconclusiveness or cancellation.
SEE MORE: Why Osun Needs Me for Another Term — Adeleke
A civil servant, Seun Akinboboye, said the rising political tension and reported killings could scare voters away from polling units.
He urged candidates and political actors to ensure their supporters obeyed the rules and avoided acts capable of triggering violence.
Akinboboye also appealed to security agencies to provide adequate protection for voters on Election Day to enable them to perform their civic responsibility without fear.
Similarly, a business owner, Demilola Olasunkanmi, said the activities of political thugs had become alarming and required urgent intervention.
She called for increased security during and after the election, urging security personnel to restrict movement during the poll to essential workers and others with legitimate reasons to be on the streets.
Olasunkanmi also advised residents to remain vigilant and cautious to avoid becoming victims of any unforeseen incident.
For Elizabeth Oluwatoyin, the fear of political violence is strong enough to keep her and her family away from the polls.
“All these politicians are the same. It is always about their selfish interest and enriching themselves and their families.
“I will not, because of the election, let them kill me. They have been killing each other for the past two to three months,” she said.
Oluwatoyin said she had warned her daughter against discussing politics publicly to avoid becoming a target.
She also said she had appealed to her husband not to risk his life for any politician, noting that politicians could eventually reconcile after the election.
“As the whole thing is going, I don’t think anybody from my family will go out and vote in this coming governorship election,” she added.
However, an elderly resident, Ajeniwura Adeoye, said he would not allow the violence to prevent him from voting.
“Look at me, I am almost 70 years old and I have been voting since 1979.
“I cannot be intimidated at my age and prevented from coming out now to vote for the candidate I want,” he said.
Adeoye said he believed the killings and shootings were intended to discourage voters from participating in the election.
While acknowledging the concerns over safety, he urged residents to come out and exercise their franchise, noting that the police had assured the public of adequate security.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain impartial and urged security agencies to protect voters on Election Day.
Meanwhile, a businesswoman, Ronke Ajibade, said her expectation was for a peaceful election without bloodshed or killings.
She said she would be willing to vote if the security situation remained calm, while appealing to candidates and political parties to play by the rules and reject violence.
Another resident of Owode-Ede, Olawale Ibrahim, described the political atmosphere as frightening, warning that continued tension could discourage voters from participating.
He urged political actors to regard the election as a normal contest in which there would be a winner and a loser, rather than treating it as a do-or-die affair.
NAN reports that there have been a series of killings in Osun ahead of the election, with political parties trading accusations and counter-accusations.
The concerns over voter safety come as the state prepares for Saturday’s governorship election, with residents calling for stronger security measures to ensure that eligible voters can participate without fear.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Monday, November 9, 2026.
Stanley Nkwocha disclosed this in a statement released on Monday, announcing the Vice President’s visit to Ebonyi State for the campaign rally.
The rally is scheduled to take place at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, as part of the APC’s campaign activities under the Renewed Hope agenda.
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The announcement called on residents and party supporters to turn out in large numbers to welcome the Vice President, describing the event as an opportunity for massive political mobilisation.
“One city. Thousands of voices. An atmosphere of incredible energy,” the statement said.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the judiciary against allowing itself to be used to undermine democracy following the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The party expressed concern that the judgment, alongside other recent court decisions involving opposition parties, could weaken Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and restrict political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SEE ALSO: APC Pressuring Hotels to Deny Opposition Parties Venues – NDC Raises Alarm
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq. On Friday, the NDC said the manner in which some judgments, particularly those emanating from High Courts, were being delivered raised concerns about a possible attempt to exclude the ADC from the forthcoming elections.
While acknowledging the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, the party warned that court decisions capable of weakening opposition parties could create the impression that the judicial system was being used to frustrate democratic competition.
“The way some of these judgements are being churned out, especially from the High Courts suggests a deliberate effort to shut out the ADC from the forthcoming general elections by other means,” the statement read.
The NDC further argued that such developments could shrink the space for multi-party democracy, which it said was already facing significant threats under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party consequently urged the judiciary to safeguard its independence, impartiality and integrity, stressing the need to protect public confidence in the institution.
It also called on the ADC to appeal the judgment without delay, urging the appellate court to grant an accelerated hearing to ensure the leadership dispute does not linger ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the NDC, resolving the matter promptly would prevent uncertainty from undermining democratic participation and the ability of political parties to prepare for the forthcoming polls.
The party concluded its statement with the declaration: “A New Nigeria is Possible!”
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly pressuring hotels in Abuja to deny the opposition party access to their facilities, describing the development as an attempt to undermine democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party raised the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director on Thursday, who expressed concern over what it described as increasing attempts to restrict the democratic space and silence opposition voices.
According to the NDC, it has faced not only alleged violent attacks by agents of the ruling APC but also discrimination from hotels and hospitality businesses in Abuja.
SEE ALSO: Two Suspected Political Thugs Killed After Attacking NDC Candidate’s Convoy in Ebonyi
The party specifically accused Rockview Hotel of cancelling agreements to provide facilities for its meetings on two separate occasions.
The first incident, according to the statement, occurred in June 2026 when the hotel allegedly withdrew its agreement to host the party’s second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting shortly before the scheduled event.
The NDC claimed that the hotel recently rejected another request to use its facilities for a meeting, allegedly informing the party that the decision came through an “order from above.”
The party also accused BON Hotel in Wuse, Abuja, of refusing to provide its facilities for a meeting despite the NDC claiming it had fulfilled all the conditions required.
The statement further alleged that the unveiling of the party’s National Campaign Council (NCC) was nearly disrupted after its event venue initially asked the party to refund its payment, saying it was no longer interested in making its facilities available.
The NDC suggested that the decision might have resulted from alleged threats or instructions from influential quarters.
However, the party said its insistence on using the facility after making payment eventually compelled the hotel to honour the arrangement.
Describing the alleged incidents as a threat to democratic participation, the NDC called on the APC to allow opposition parties to operate freely and campaign without interference.
“This is not democracy. The APC should allow all parties to campaign without let or hindrance, and give Nigerians the opportunity to make their choice on who governs them,” the statement said.
The party also urged Nigerians and supporters of democracy to call out Rockview Hotel and BON Hotel over what it described as their “anti-people and anti-democratic actions.”
Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the NDC declared that Nigerians deserved better governance and insisted that it was prepared to serve with passion and patriotism.
“Nigerians deserve better, and NDC is prepared to serve with passion and patriotism,” the statement added.
The party concluded with its declaration that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
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