Osun Election in Chaos: 10,210 Cops Deployed as Watchdog Warns of Killings and Vote Buying
Nigeria’s Osun State governorship election is facing a credibility crisis, with a civil society watchdog warning of killings and vote buying just days before the vote, even as authorities deploy over 10,000 security personnel to maintain order.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), which also heads Transparency International’s Nigeria chapter, said these malpractices undermine the integrity of the vote [217668]. In a statement, the group’s Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, called on authorities to take immediate action to ensure a free and fair election, specifically pointing to incidents of killings and the open purchase of votes as major red flags [217668].
The alarm comes as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed 10,210 personnel and specialised tactical units to Osun State ahead of the election [215878]. The deployment includes rapid response squads trained to handle potential security threats, with officials stating the personnel will work alongside other security agencies to protect voters, election officials, and polling stations [215878].
The controversy has also touched the campaign of current Governor Ademola Adeleke. His campaign organisation has accused the police of illegally detaining more than 60 members of the minority Accord Party, demanding their immediate release [215332]. Police authorities have not yet responded to the allegations [215332].
The election, widely tracked under the hashtag #OsunDecides2026, is scheduled to take place in the coming days, with authorities intensifying preparations to prevent violence or disruption [215878][215332].