An election observer organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative, has said 17 election-related violence incidents were recorded across 10 local government areas of Osun State during the August 15 governorship election, with more than 44 victims recorded.
KDI stated that the incidents, which included gunshots, physical assaults, intimidation and harassment, were documented through its Election Day Data Room, established to coordinate and analyse reports from accredited observers deployed across the state.
At the close of voting, INEC declared Ademola Adeleke of the Accord winner of the polls with 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 444,815 votes.
In its post-election analysis conference in Abuja on Thursday, KDI Executive Director, Bukola Idowu, said the violence disrupted voting at Iroyin Ayo Open Space, Ward Elejigbo D/Ejemu, Ejigbo Local Government Area, leading to the cancellation of the election there.
According to the organisation, gunshots, physical assaults and intimidation each accounted for five of the verified incidents, representing 29.4 per cent each, while harassment accounted for two incidents, representing 11.8 per cent.
