By Osogbo, Osun State — August 15, 2026
Saturday’s Osun State governorship election was marked by a string of separate flashpoints across the state even as voting and collation continued, ranging from a candidate’s complaint over agent exclusion to a physical confrontation at a deputy governor’s polling unit and a tear gas scare that briefly went viral online.
Salaam Alleges Agent Exclusion in 10 LGAs, Denies Vote-Buying
The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, raised the alarm over what he says is the non-recognition of his party’s polling agents in several parts of Osun State.
Salaam, who cast his ballot at his polling unit around 10:39 a.m., said he had received reports that ADC agents were being turned away or not recognised in as many as 10 local government areas, despite the party having submitted their names ahead of the election. He said he had reported the matter to the relevant authorities, who he understood were looking into it.
The candidate used the moment to push back on suggestions that his party had engaged in vote-buying, insisting that the ADC’s campaign strategy relied on direct engagement with voters rather than inducements. He maintained that voters should be free to choose their preferred candidate without interference.
Salaam voted at Ward 4 and expressed confidence in his chances, citing both his faith and what he described as strong grassroots support. His comments add to a running set of complaints from candidates and parties over the conduct of Saturday’s process, even as INEC has maintained that the election is proceeding within its stated commitment to a free and credible exercise.
Tension Flares at Deputy Governor Adewusi’s Polling Unit as APC Rival Shows Up
In Ile-Ife, a confrontation broke out at the polling unit of Osun State Deputy Governor and Accord Party deputy governorship candidate, Prince Kola Adewusi, after the APC’s deputy governorship candidate, Benjamin Kayode Adereti, arrived at the same location.
Adereti had earlier cast his vote at his own designated polling unit, Waasin Polling Unit 11 in Ilaare Ward 3, before proceeding to Adewusi’s polling unit. His appearance was met with resistance from Adewusi supporters present, sparking a heated exchange that briefly disrupted the otherwise calm voting atmosphere at the location.
The reason for Adereti’s visit to a rival candidate’s polling unit could not immediately be established. Video of the confrontation circulated widely on social media shortly after the incident. There were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries connected to the confrontation.
Police Arrest Officer After Tear Gas Discharge Sparks Panic at Modakeke Registration Centre
In Ife East Local Government Area, the Osun State Police Command arrested an officer over the discharge of tear gas that caused panic at a Registration Area Centre in Modakeke Ward 10.
Videos of the incident spread quickly on social media, showing residents confronting police officers and, in accounts given in Yoruba, accusing them of firing tear gas at voters without provocation. The clips fuelled online claims that police had deliberately used tear gas to disrupt voting.
In a statement issued Saturday on its official X account, the police command rejected that account, saying the incident occurred at the Registration Area Centre and not at a polling unit. The command said the discharge resulted from negligence on the part of the officer, who it said had accidentally set off his tear-gas canister while relieving himself.
The command described the officer’s conduct as unacceptable and said he had been taken into custody, with disciplinary proceedings already under way alongside a broader investigation into the circumstances of the incident, including whether any other motive was involved. Police reiterated that officers on election duty are barred from carrying arms or tactical equipment within a designated radius of polling units, and dismissed as false claims that the tear gas was used to intimidate voters or keep them from the polls. The command apologised to residents and election observers affected by the incident and reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful and credible process through voting and collation.
A Tense Election Day
The three incidents underline the tense, closely watched atmosphere surrounding Saturday’s vote, as security agencies work to reassure candidates, parties and voters of the process’s integrity ahead of collation.
