BREAKING: Navy Arrests Osun APC Assembly Candidate Komolafe With Rifle Ahead of Election

OSOGBO — The Nigerian Navy has reportedly arrested the All Progressives Congress House of Assembly candidate for Atakumosa East/West, Hon. Babatunde Komolafe Festus, in his hometown of Ifewara, Osun State, over alleged possession of a firearm.

The reported arrest occurred on Thursday, just 48 hours before Saturday’s Osun governorship election, adding another explosive security development to an already tense electoral atmosphere.

SaharaReporters, which broke the story, reported that Komolafe was travelling in an APC campaign vehicle alongside other supporters when Navy personnel conducted a routine search.

A firearm was allegedly discovered during the search. A source quoted by SaharaReporters said the vehicle was being used for the campaign activities of APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji when the occupants were apprehended.

The publication also reported obtaining a video showing Navy personnel parading those arrested after the incident.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the alleged firearm discovery comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Osun, where political rhetoric, allegations of intimidation and security concerns have intensified as election day approaches.

Navy arrest adds another security shock

The reported arrest has not yet been accompanied by a detailed public statement from the Nigerian Navy establishing the identity of the weapon, its ownership or the circumstances surrounding its alleged possession.

Those details matter. Komolafe should therefore be regarded as having been arrested over alleged firearm possession, rather than being declared guilty of illegal possession.

That distinction is essential in responsible election reporting. But the arrest itself is significant. A sitting political candidate allegedly travelling with a firearm in a campaign vehicle two days before a governorship election is bound to raise questions about political security and the movement of weapons during the final hours of the campaign.

The authorities now need to provide answers. Who owned the firearm? Who was carrying it?Was the weapon licensed? Was it found on Komolafe personally or inside the vehicle? Who else was arrested? What were the circumstances of the search? And what action will follow?

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Those questions should be answered quickly. It comes after a week of political warnings

The development does not exist in isolation. Osun has spent the final days before Saturday’s election dealing with a succession of controversies involving political speech, alleged intimidation and security threats.

Senator Francis Fadahunsi is currently under scrutiny following a viral video that Amnesty International interpreted as containing an alleged call for violence against members of the Accord Party.

The Osun Police Command subsequently summoned and questioned the senator. Amnesty International has vowed to pursue accountability over the matter. Then came another controversy involving APC chieftain Mutali Adisa.

SaharaReporters submitted that Adisa warned residents of Ikire who did not intend to vote for APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji that they should not attempt to cross a “gutter” on election day.

The remark generated concern because Ikire is Oyebamiji’s hometown and one of the politically significant areas in Saturday’s contest.

Now, less than two days before voters go to the polls, an APC legislative candidate has reportedly been arrested with a firearm.

The sequence is difficult to ignore.

Security agencies are already on high alert

The reported arrest comes as security agencies have deployed thousands of personnel across Osun.

The NSCDC announced the deployment of 10,210 personnel and specialised tactical units for the election.

The Nigeria Police Force has separately announced 15,000 personnel. That gives the two agencies a combined announced deployment of more than 25,000 personnel.

The heavy security presence reflects concerns over violence and political intimidation. But the Komolafe arrest introduces another dimension.

Security agencies are no longer dealing only with threats from unidentified political thugs. They are now reportedly apprehending a named political candidate in connection with an alleged firearm.

That makes transparency particularly important.

If the weapon was unlawfully possessed, the authorities should say so and proceed according to law.

If the circumstances prove otherwise, that should also be made clear.

Either way, the public deserves facts rather than speculation.Osun’s election has become a security story

The political contest was already unusually tense. Recent monitoring recorded 73 election-related violent incidents between October 2025 and July 2026, with 29 deaths reported.

The violence intensified in the months leading to the election. That background makes every new security incident more consequential.

A firearm allegedly discovered in a political campaign vehicle cannot simply be treated as an ordinary arrest. It raises questions about how political actors are moving around the state, what weapons may be circulating and whether some actors are preparing for confrontation rather than voting.

Those questions are now for the security agencies to answer.

What happens next matters

The Nigerian Navy’s next statement will be important. The public needs confirmation of the arrest, the identities of those detained, the firearm allegedly recovered and the legal basis for further action.

The APC also faces a political responsibility.

The party should clarify whether Komolafe was travelling in an officially authorised campaign vehicle and whether party officials were aware of the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest.

But the issue should not be turned into another partisan shouting match. If Komolafe committed no offence, he deserves due process and the opportunity to establish that.

If he or anyone else was unlawfully carrying a firearm, the law should take its course. The same standard must apply regardless of party.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the timing of the incident makes it particularly troubling. Osun voters are now less than two days away from deciding their next governor.

They should not have to wonder whether the politicians seeking their votes are preparing for a contest at the ballot box or something more dangerous.

The responsibility now rests heavily on the security agencies. They must establish the facts quickly. They must act impartially.

And they must ensure that the presence of weapons does not translate into violence at the polls. Saturday’s election should be decided by ballots.Not bullets.