A former chairperson of the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has warned that rising political tension ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election could undermine the credibility of the poll and threaten Nigeria’s democracy.
The election expert cited reports of election-related violence that have reportedly claimed more than 20 lives, alongside controversies surrounding the reported freezing of an Osun State Government bank account by the EFCC, the deployment of about 15,000 police personnel, and the arrest and subsequent release of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, and five others over alleged vote-buying.
While acknowledging the police’s constitutional powers to investigate electoral offences, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi stressed that actions by public institutions during elections must be transparent, lawful, and impartial to avoid deepening public distrust.
She urged security agencies to remain professional and neutral, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure every lawful vote counts, and appealed to political leaders to reject violence, hate speech, and intimidation.
“No political office is worth the life of a single Nigerian,” she said, urging all stakeholders to protect the integrity of the Osun governorship election through responsible leadership, constitutional compliance, and respect for the rule of law.
