The governorship election in Osun State has officially commenced with voters trooping out to their various polling units to cast their votes to elect the next governor of the State.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking another term in office, facing 12 candidates in the election, including Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Osun 2026: Early turnout of voters, heavy security presence in Osogbo, Ede, Ilesa
The Osun governorship election commenced peacefully on Saturday, with heavy security presence observed around polling units in some parts of the state.
Correspondents, who monitored the election in Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Ede North, Boripe and Osogbo Local Government Areas, report that voters were seen as early as 6:45 a.m. at some of the polling units visited.
At Ward D1, Unit 8 in Ilesa West council area, INEC officials were on ground, while voters were seen checking their names on the pasted voters’ list.
The Presiding Officer at the unit, Mr Segun Adegbaju, said he and other officials arrived at the polling unit at 6:59 a.m.
Similarly at Ward 8, Unit 3 within the council area, a large number of voters were seen checking their names on the pasted list, while INEC ad hoc staff were also on ground.
The Assistant Presiding Officer, Mr Cestus Akilolu, while addressing the voters, said accreditation and voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.
Akilolu urged the voters to remain orderly, assuring them that the process would be peaceful.
At Ward 4, Unit 6, Ede North Local Government Area, INEC ad hoc staff arrived early, while voters also turned out early for the exercise.
Also at Ward 4, Unit 6, Abere, Ede North, voters were seen as early as 7 a.m. checking their names on the pasted list, with INEC ad hoc staff on ground.
At Ward 4, Unit 13, Osogbo Local Government Area, voters arrived as early as 6:50 a.m., awaiting the arrival of electoral officials and voting materials.
At Ward 3, Unit 16, Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area, voters were also seen waiting for the arrival of electoral officials.
Some of the electorate expressed satisfaction with the early arrival of INEC ad hoc staff at the polling units.
As of the time of filing this report, voting had yet to commence at some of the polling units visited, as the exercise was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.
Heavy presence of security agents was also observed in all the places visited as well as around the polling units.
Osun election: Large turnout in Ikire as voters await accreditation
There was a large turnout of voters in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun, on Saturday as residents trooped to polling centres to elect the next governor of the state.
Voters arrived at their polling units as early as 7 a.m., checking the registers pasted on walls for their names ahead of accreditation.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already set up at the polling units before 7 a.m., in preparation for accreditation and voting.
Unarmed police officers were seen at the polling centres, while armed security personnel, soldiers and patrol vehicles were deployed at strategic locations around the town.
However, as of 8:20 a.m., vehicular movement was observed along the Ife-Ibadan Road, which passes through the town, while motorcycles and some cars moved around the town.
The atmosphere remained peaceful, with some shops also open for business as residents went about their activities in the ongoing election.
Ikire is the hometown of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Osun governorship election, who is expected to vote at Ward 9, Unit 3, AUD School Atile, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area.
Osun 2026: Ede voters troop to polling units
Residents of Ede in Osun on Saturday trooped to the various polling units in the town to exercise their civic duties in the ongoing governorship election.
As early as 6:30 a.m., vehicles were seen conveying the voters and some youth corps members to various polling units in preparation for the exercise.
Some voters arrived at their polling units as early as 6:40 a.m., waiting for INEC officials to verify their names and ensure that they were duly accredited before exercising their franchise.
Security personnel were also seen at various points across Ede North and Ede South Local Government Areas, manning checkpoints, in line with the vehicular movement restriction order by the police.
Some local election observers were sighted in some polling units trying to observe the situation of things pending the commencement of accreditation of voters.
Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had equally arrived at some polling units as early as 6:50 a.m., ahead of the arrival of INEC officials with election materials.
While accreditation had started in some polling units, other places visited had yet to get the names of eligible voters pasted by INEC officials.
Some of the polling units visited included Sagba Agbogunde Ward 2, unit 9, Adogbe Ward 3, unit 5, CAC Ward 4, unit 2, all in Ede North Local Government as well as Orita Alajue Ward 5, unit 1, Obalaoye Unit 5, Ward 2 and Agip Ward 2, unit 3 in Ede South Council Area.
Ede is the home town of Gov. Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of Accord.
Osun 2026: Calm atmosphere, moderate turnout in Ejigbo
Meanwhile, the situation in Ejigbo Local Government Area, particularly at Moyofade Ward 14, remained calm on Saturday as residents turned out to participate in the Osun governorship election.
Voters began arriving at polling units around 8 a.m.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc personnel were already at their designated locations preparing for accreditation and voting.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were also observed to be functioning properly, while voters checked the voter register displayed on the walls ahead of accreditation.
Security personnel were also deployed to various locations within the ward, helping to maintain order and ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.
As of the time of filing this report, voter turnout was moderate, although some party agents and voters expressed optimism that more residents would come out to cast their ballots.
The atmosphere remained peaceful across the area, with no major incident recorded as voting activities continued.
Osun 2026: Party agents express confidence in electoral process
Some party agents in the ongoing Osun governorship election on Saturday expressed confidence in the electoral process, even as they called for peaceful conduct of the exercise.
The party agents called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the credibility of the electoral process.
Mr Tijani Muideen, an All Progressives Congress (APC) agent, urged stakeholders to ensure that the election was peaceful and devoid of harassment or intimidation.
Muideen, while stating that the election should not be a do-or-die, called on security personnel to maintain a high level of professionalism.
Also, Mr Salam Adeleke, an agent of the Accord party, said he was concerned about the presence of some security personnel at some polling areas.
Adeleke said he expected the election to be free, fair and peaceful, urging security agencies to ensure adequate security for voters and INEC officials.
“I want the election to be peaceful, free and fair, and security agencies should be on standby to ensure security without any form of intimidation.
“We hope that the people’s choice will be fulfilled,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Sulaiman Abdullahi, an agent of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), called for a peaceful election, urging security personnel to protect voters from intimidation.
“We want the election to be peaceful. I don’t want anybody to intimidate anyone, and I want security agencies to allow people to vote without fear,” he said.
Accreditation had yet to commence at the Sagba Agbogunde Ward 2, unit 9 where Gov. Ademola Adeleke, the Accord candidate, is expected to vote.