| CISLAC, SERAP decry escalating violence | Fadahunsi denies inciting comment after Police visit
BY ADEMU IDAKWO, JAMES KWEN, Abuja, AND JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo
Two days to Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the reprinting of ballot papers and result sheets following a court order directing the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, in the race.
INEC, in a statement issued yesterday by the national commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, had been added to the ballot.
The development means that 15 political parties will now contest the August 15 governorship election.
According to the commission, the decision followed a judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, involving the SDP, Ajala and INEC.
The court ordered the electoral commission to recognise, accept, upload, process and publish Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the election.
In compliance with the judgement, INEC said it was reproducing the ballot papers and result sheets to accommodate the SDP candidate.
The commission said the reproduced materials would arrive in Osun State today, Thursday, August 13, and would immediately be moved to various local government area offices across the state in line with its established procedure for deploying sensitive electoral materials.
The development has placed additional logistical pressure on INEC as preparations intensify for Saturday’s poll.
INEC, however, assured political parties, candidates and voters of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election and urged all stakeholders to remain focused on the electoral process.
Fadahunsi Denies Violence Comment
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi has denied claims that he incited violence ahead of the election, saying a viral video circulating on social media was edited to misrepresent his comments.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, said he only asked voters to “kill” the Accord Party with their votes, insisting that he would never incite violence.
The police had earlier invited him over the alleged inciting comment.
Speaking at a press conference in the state capital, Osogbo, yesterday after honouring the police invitation, the senator accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly sponsoring political violence and terrorism into his senatorial district ahead of Saturday’s election.
Adeleke had called for Fadahunsi’s arrest over the alleged inciting remarks against supporters of the Accord Party.
Fadahunsi alleged that 30 APC members had been killed within the past month, claiming the violence was intended to intimidate opposition supporters and prevent them from voting.
“Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of the APC, to destabilise us so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes,” he alleged.
The senator also disclosed that there had been several incidents of violence in Ijesaland, alleging that four people were killed and 16 others sustained bullet wounds during a crisis over control of local government administration.
He urged residents of Osun East to remain resolute and participate in the election, even as he expressed confidence that the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), would win.
“By August 15, when all these have ended, let them go around talking grammar where they feel like. The people of Osun State have understood the game; they are devilish and the people are ready to reject them. AMBO will win the governorship race,” he said.
Incitement: Sen Fadahunsi must be held accountable – Amnesty Int’l
However, Amnesty International has called on the authorities to hold Fadahunsi accountable over what it described as remarks instructing his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.
In a post on its X handle, the organisation said the senator’s speech was intended to cause violence in the election.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns Francis Fadahunsi (APC) — senator representing the Osun East senatorial district, who was on video during the campaign instructing his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of the state’s August 15 governorship election.
“Senator Fadahunsi’s reckless remarks were deliberate and solely aimed at inciting a bloody poll in Osun State,” it stated.
The organisation said Nigerian authorities had an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred that constituted incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.
“The authorities must urgently denounce any statements, live, online or otherwise, which advocate violence.
“Senator Fadahunsi must be held accountable,” it added.
CISLAC, SERAP Raise The Alarm
Similarly, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has also raised concerns over the growing threat of electoral violence, political intimidation and vote-buying ahead of the election.
In a statement by its executive director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation said independent monitoring, media reports and ongoing assessments indicated a worrying pattern of violence, intimidation and alleged voter inducement that could undermine the credibility of the election.
CISLAC said several election-related incidents had been recorded across the state in recent months, including killings, shootings, clashes, attacks on political gatherings, destruction of property and other forms of intimidation.
It noted with particular concern the reported killing of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, after he was allegedly struck by a stray bullet during a clash.
“Other reported incidents include the killing of Kolade Eluyera in Irewole Local Government Area, as well as the shooting of a political office holder in Osogbo and the killing of a political youth leader in Esa-Oke,” the group said.
While noting that the circumstances and responsibility for some of the incidents remained subject to investigation, CISLAC said the reported loss of lives demonstrated the urgent need for stakeholders to prioritise peace and the protection of citizens.
The organisation expressed particular concern over the recruitment, financing and deployment of political thugs to intimidate voters, attack opponents, disrupt political activities and influence electoral outcomes.
It also condemned vote-buying, warning that the practice exploits economic hardship and weakens citizens’ ability to make independent political choices.
CISLAC further raised concerns over the reported deployment of armed military personnel to the Osun State INEC office.
It said extraordinary security measures might become necessary where there were credible threats to lives, electoral materials or critical infrastructure, but stressed that any military deployment must have a clear legal and operational basis.
The organisation urged authorities to clearly communicate the purpose, scope and legal basis of the deployment and ensure that it did not interfere with the independence of electoral officials or intimidate voters.
It also called on security agencies to maintain professionalism and political neutrality, investigate reported killings and attacks and prosecute anyone found culpable irrespective of political affiliation.
On its part, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) warned that no election should be conducted in an atmosphere of fear.
In a statement obtained from its website yesterday, SERAP urged INEC to act on reported cases of political violence, threats and intimidation ahead of Saturday’s election.
The organisation said 56 politically related violent incidents and 14 fatalities had been recorded in Osun State over the past 12 months, with 36 incidents reported in May and June alone.
The reported incidents include shootings, killings, physical attacks, intimidation, destruction of property and harassment.
“No election should be conducted in an atmosphere of fear. Nigerians have the right to vote for the candidates of their choice,” SERAP said.
It urged INEC and security agencies to strengthen threat assessment and ensure that security arrangements protect voters, candidates, journalists, election observers and civil society organisations without political discrimination.
SERAP also cited Section 97 of the Electoral Act 2026, which prohibits threats of force or violence during political campaigns, and urged the authorities to take immediate steps to prevent further violence.
Police Arrest Four Over Firearms Possession
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command has arrested four suspects over alleged attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
Ojelabi said the suspects, comprising two men and two women, were arrested on Sunday at about 2pm following a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police.
He said police operatives recovered two firearms during searches of the suspects’ residences.
“One cut-to-size locally made firearm was recovered from the shop of one of the female suspects while one pump-action firearm was recovered from the residence of the other female suspect,” he said.
The arrests came as security agencies intensified operations across the state ahead of Saturday’s election amid concerns over political violence and threats to the peaceful conduct of the poll.
