Osun State has a reputation for controversies bigger than its size. It ranks 26th nationally in terms of voter population and is six out of six in the Southwest. From 2010, when the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rauf Aregbesola, toppled Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) through a court ruling, to the drama of the “inconclusive election” that installed Gboyega Oyetola eight years later, and Ademola Adeleke’s resurgence, Osun ranks amongst Nigeria’s leading political theatres. It’s happening again on Saturday as Governor Adeleke seeks reelection on the platform of the Accord Party (AP), with 14 other parties on the ballot. Top among them are the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Bola Oyebamiji as its candidate, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), fielding Najeem Salam. Despite appeals for a fair, peaceful, and credible election, the indications are that the major parties regard this election as a war.
Not worth dying for
According to Amnesty International, at least 29 people have been reportedly killed in 73 election-related violent incidents in Osun as of Tuesday. Yet, this week, a viral video emerged, showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the APC shamelessly and explicitly asking his supporters to “kill” members of the governor’s party within reach. In a post on X, Afrobeats star Davido appealed to US President Donald Trump for help in preventing election violence and later said, “Trump’s people had reached out to him.” Reports say APC’s 276-member National Campaign Council, led by Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, has arrived in Osogbo, mobilised for Saturday’s election. The state of the living spring now looks like the Strait of Hormuz. And it’s not just the arrival of generals, henchmen and supporters of the major parties that put Osun on a war footing. On Wednesday, a bank source told me that none of the branches in Lagos could pay out up to N5 million in cash. Politicians are raiding the banks, and Osun is floating on a dead sea of money, spooking fears that those who survive the bullets may also have to resist being buried in slush funds.
