The Osun State governorship election took a tense turn on Saturday, after the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, alleged that hoodlums disrupted voting at his polling unit in Ejigbo Local Government Area.
Salaam made the allegation shortly after casting his vote at his residence in Ward 4, Unit 13, Ejigbo, where he described the incident as a serious threat to his safety and the integrity of the electoral process.
The ADC candidate alleged that the disruption appeared to be a planned attack against him, warning that such incidents could undermine voters’ confidence and prevent citizens from freely exercising their constitutional rights.
“How could we differentiate this from military rule when people’s vote doesn’t count?” Salaam asked, expressing concern about the circumstances surrounding the disruption.
He also criticised the response of security personnel at the polling unit, alleging that they failed to intervene promptly and effectively when the disturbance occurred.
“It is expected, they could be conniving together with a political party,” he alleged, while calling for an investigation into the incident and stronger security measures at polling locations.
Salaam warned that failure by security agencies to contain disruptions during elections could heighten tensions and encourage citizens to take the law into their own hands.
According to him, ineffective security responses could create an atmosphere of fear and frustration, potentially escalating isolated incidents into broader community crises.
The ADC candidate further questioned the credibility of the exercise, saying, “This is not election, it is a selection.”
His comments came as voters across Osun State participated in the governorship election to determine the successor to Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Read also:
- Osun Election: Davido Urges INEC To Use BVAS Front Camera Amid Technical Issues
- Osun Election: Voters Accuse Suspected APC Supporters Of Sharing Cash At Polling Units
- Osun Election: Davido Raises Alarm Over Alleged Move to Stop Him From Entering State
Salaam appealed to the government, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders to protect voters, maintain order and ensure that every eligible citizen is allowed to cast a ballot without intimidation.
He also urged political actors and their supporters to reject violence and respect voters’ rights, stressing that the credibility of the election would depend not only on the eventual result but also on whether voters were allowed to participate freely.
The candidate called for peaceful conduct throughout the remaining stages of the election and urged authorities to strengthen democratic institutions to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
The allegations of a planned attack and possible collusion involving security personnel were made by Salaam and had not been independently established in the report.
