Over 100 suspected “imported” voters allegedly brought into Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election have been arrested by security operatives.
The voters, who were reportedly carrying newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), were allegedly camped at the residence of Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing the Irewole-Isokan Constituency.
In a video distributed across social media platforms, a large number of people were seen being questioned by security operatives over their presence at the residence and their alleged role 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 in the election.
The arrest comes amid heightened political tension in Osun, with allegations of intimidation, arrests, violence and other electoral irregularities being raised by different political actors ahead of the election.
The Accord Party itself has previously accused security and other federal institutions of targeting its members and supporters ahead of the poll. In a petition dated August 12, 2026, the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, appealed to the European Union to intervene in what he described as a worsening political crisis in the state.
Mgbudem alleged that at least 29 people had been killed in incidents linked 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 expressed concern about what it described as the selective deployment of federal law-enforcement and regulatory agencies during the election period, arguing that such actions could undermine confidence in the electoral process if they were perceived as partisan.
Accord further alleged that its members had faced attacks, harassment and intimidation. 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.
The development also comes barely a day after Governor Ademola Adeleke announced plans to establish an independent commission of inquiry immediately after the election to investigate reported killings and other acts of violence associated with the electoral process.
Adeleke made the announcement on Friday while addressing journalists in Osogbo, the Osun State capital. His speech was delivered by the state Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi.
The governor expressed condolences to the families of those who had lost their lives during the election period and stressed that political disagreements should not lead to the loss of lives.
“The Osun State Government expresses its deepest condolences to the families of all persons who have tragically lost their lives in incidents of violence during this election period,” Adeleke said.
“Every life lost is an Osun life. Politics should never cost anyone his or her life, irrespective of political affiliation.”
According to the governor, the commission would investigate the circumstances surrounding reported killings and recommend appropriate measures to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice, regardless of their political affiliation or position.
He said the commission would be constituted on Monday, immediately after the election.
Adeleke also pledged that his administration would establish a framework to support and compensate families who lost relatives in the violence, while promising that victims would be appropriately honoured.
“The election will come and go, but we will remain one people. We owe the dead justice, their families compassion, and the people of Osun a peaceful future,” he said.
