Tension has once again risen in Osun State as armed security personnel reportedly surrounded the residence of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, on the day of the governorship election.
The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign canopy of the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke raised the alarm in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the council, more than 10 black Hilux vehicles were reportedly used by the security personnel who arrived at the Speaker’s residence in Osogbo.
The campaign council said it had received reports that the residence was effectively sealed off, with everyone inside allegedly prevented from leaving the premises.
However, the council said it was unable to independently establish the reason for the security deployment or determine whether the personnel were there for protection or to carry out an official operation.
“At this moment, we cannot independently confirm the purpose of their presence, whether they are there to provide security or are carrying out routine official duties,” the statement signed by TICC spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said.
The campaign council therefore called on the relevant security agencies to immediately explain why the personnel were deployed to the Speaker’s residence and why movement was allegedly restricted.
According to the statement, efforts were made to contact the Commissioner of Police responsible for the election, but the publicly available official telephone line was not answered.
The council also said it attempted to reach the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the election, but received no response. It further claimed that the Police Situation Room could not be reached because the publicly provided telephone number was switched off.
The campaign council said the presence of heavily armed personnel around the Speaker’s residence could further increase anxiety among residents, particularly on an election day when voters are expected to participate without fear or intimidation.
“On this Election Day, the people of Osun State deserve an atmosphere free from fear and intimidation. Security deployments must inspire confidence and protect the integrity of the electoral process,” the council said.
It also appealed to security agencies to ensure that residents were allowed to exercise their franchise freely.
“The people of Osun State must be allowed to come out peacefully and decide their future according to their own conscience, without intimidation or interference,” the statement added.
The council urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting clarification from the relevant authorities.
This reported security operation came shortly after more than 100 suspected “imported” voters were allegedly arrested in the state ahead of the governorship election.
The voters were reportedly carrying newly issued Permanent Voter Cards and were allegedly camped at the residence of Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Irewole-Isokan Constituency.
A video circulating on social media showed a large group of people being questioned by security operatives over their presence at the residence and their alleged involvement in the election.
During the interrogation, Ibrahim reportedly admitted that the group had been staying at his residence, claiming that they were there to vote for the Accord Party.
The alleged arrest has added to concerns about the conduct of the election, with political parties and their supporters making accusations of intimidation, arrests, violence and other electoral irregularities.
The Accord Party has also raised allegations against federal security and law-enforcement agencies ahead of the poll.
In a petition dated August 12, 2026, Accord National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem appealed to the European Union to intervene in what he described as the worsening political situation in Osun.
Mgbudem alleged that at least 29 people had been killed in incidents connected to the election and claimed that more than 60 Accord members and supporters had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State.
The party also questioned what it described as the selective deployment of federal law-enforcement and regulatory institutions during the election period.
Accord maintained that it was not opposed to legitimate investigations or lawful enforcement but argued that the timing and manner of actions by public institutions could undermine confidence in the electoral process if they were perceived as partisan or inconsistent with due process.
The party further alleged that some of its members had been attacked, harassed and intimidated. It also referred to a viral video in which Senator Francis Fadahunsi allegedly called for Accord members to be killed wherever they were found, although the allegation has not been independently verified.