OsunDecides2026: Tear Gas, Polling Unit Tensions, Salaam Attack Claim, Fadahunsi Video as Voting Continues

The Osun governorship election has recorded fresh tension in several locations as voting continues, with a police officer arrested over a tear gas incident, confrontation at the deputy governor’s polling unit and violence forcing the ADC governorship candidate to flee his polling location.

The latest developments have added a security dimension to an election that has otherwise recorded substantial voter turnout in several parts of the state.

Police Arrest Officer After Tear Gas Incident

The Osun State Police Command has arrested an officer after an accidental tear gas discharge caused panic at a Registration Area Centre in Modakeke Ward 10, Ife East Local Government Area.Videos from the scene showed people reacting angrily as tear gas spread around the area.

The police subsequently clarified that the incident did not occur at a polling unit.According to the command, the officer negligently discharged the tear gas while attempting to ease himself.

He was immediately taken into custody, while disciplinary proceedings and an investigation were commenced. The police also apologised to residents and election observers affected by the incident.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the command has not described the incident as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the election. The police said the investigation would determine the full circumstances surrounding the officer’s conduct and whether any other motive was involved.

‘I Was The Target’: Salaam Speaks After Violence at Ejigbo Polling Unit

The most serious political incident reported so far occurred at the polling unit of African Democratic Congress governorship candidate Najeem Salaam in Ejigbo.

Violence erupted at the location shortly after Salaam and his wife cast their ballots. The disturbance caused panic as voters, INEC officials, observers and journalists reportedly fled the area.

Voting was subsequently disrupted as electoral officials left the polling unit amid concerns over their safety. Security personnel later moved into the area to restore order.

Salaam was also whisked away from the location by his security team. Speaking after the incident, the ADC candidate alleged that he was the actual target of the attack.

Salaam described the incident as a “well-planned” attempt to attack him and said his security team moved him away before the alleged attackers could reach him.

According to him, the incident occurred barely a minute after he had voted, despite the process reportedly proceeding peacefully before his arrival.

“The plan was to even attack me,” Salaam said, adding that his strategic movement from the area prevented the alleged attack from succeeding. He described the incident as serious and expressed concern about the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the security arrangements for elections.

Salaam also said elderly voters were among those who fled the scene to protect themselves. He called for a thorough investigation and said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The ADC candidate said investigators should establish who was behind the incident and determine the motive, even after the election.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Salaam’s allegation that he was targeted remains an allegation and should not be presented as an established fact until investigators establish what happened and who was responsible.

There is also no basis at this stage to conclude that the violence was carried out by APC supporters, despite the political rivalry surrounding the election.

Tension Over Adereti’s Presence at Adewusi’s Polling Unit

Another confrontation was reported at the polling location of Osun Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi.

Tension reportedly followed the arrival of APC deputy governorship candidate Benjamin Kayode Adereti at the location. Adereti had already cast his ballot at his own designated polling unit, Waasin Polling Unit 11, Ilaare Ward 3.

Supporters of Adewusi reportedly questioned why the APC deputy governorship candidate was at their polling location when he was not registered there.

The disagreement escalated into a verbal confrontation before the situation was brought under control. Adereti was not attempting to vote at the location. He had already voted at his designated polling unit.The issue was therefore about his presence at a polling location belonging to a rival political camp.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the confrontation reflects the heightened political sensitivity surrounding the movement of candidates and their supporters during the election.

AAC Supporters Reject Appeal for Patience Over BVAS Failure

At Polling Unit 009, Ward 2, Ede North, supporters of the African Action Congress governorship candidate reportedly became angry after a BVAS malfunction disrupted voting.

The supporters rejected appeals for patience and expressed concern about what the disruption could mean for the eventual outcome at the polling unit. Electoral officials explained that the malfunction had already been reported.They also said INEC had dispatched another machine to replace the faulty BVAS.

The explanation did not immediately calm the supporters. They insisted that voters should not simply be expected to accept whatever result might eventually emerge after the disruption.

ValidViewNetwork reports that no final result had been announced at the polling unit when the disagreement occurred. The supporters were therefore objecting to the circumstances surrounding the delayed voting process and warning against accepting a potentially disputed outcome.

The polling unit is significant because it is also where Governor Ademola Adeleke cast his ballot earlier in the day.

Fadahunsi’s Fresh Video Triggers Another Controversy

Senator Francis Fadahunsi has also become the subject of renewed attention after a fresh video recorded after he cast his vote began circulating online.

In the footage, Fadahunsi is heard speaking to people around him about monitoring voters.He urged them to monitor voters and establish which political party each voter supported.

He then said that anyone who did not vote for the APC was not a “true Ilesha person.” The remarks have generated criticism because of their reference to monitoring voters’ political choices.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the statement should be understood as Fadahunsi’s political assertion, not as an accepted definition of Ilesha identity.

A voter’s political choice does not determine whether that person belongs to Ilesha or any other community. However, the call to monitor voters’ choices has raised concerns about voter privacy and political pressure during an election conducted through secret ballots.

The latest controversy comes after Fadahunsi had already attracted scrutiny over earlier inflammatory remarks concerning opposition supporters.

More BVAS Complaints Reported

Technical difficulties have also continued to feature in the election.Some voters have complained about problems with BVAS accreditation, particularly facial recognition.

A voter in Ikirun, Sharafa Lasisi, reportedly appealed for assistance after experiencing difficulty with the facial recognition process.

The complaints have increased pressure on INEC to resolve technical problems quickly and prevent voters from losing their opportunity to vote. At the same time, observers have reported smooth accreditation and strong turnout in several other locations.

INEC earlier said 3,556 of Osun’s 3,763 polling units had opened by 8:30 a.m.

Adeleke and Oyebamiji Vote

Governor Ademola Adeleke cast his ballot at Ward 02, Polling Unit 009, Abogunde Compound, Ede North. The Accord Party candidate is seeking another term. APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji also voted in his hometown of Ikire, where large numbers of voters had gathered.

ADC candidate Najeem Salaam voted in Ejigbo before the violence disrupted proceedings at his polling location. The three candidates remain the major contenders in the election.

Security Agencies Under Pressure

The latest incidents have placed additional pressure on security agencies deployed across Osun. Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu deployed Deputy Inspector-General Ishyaku Mohammed to coordinate security operations for the election.

The police have warned political actors and supporters against violence, intimidation, vote-buying, ballot snatching and other electoral offences.

The developments at Modakeke and Ejigbo demonstrate why those warnings remain critical.

In Modakeke, an officer has been arrested over an incident the police described as accidental.

In Ejigbo, a leading governorship candidate says he was the intended target of a deliberate attack.

At Adewusi’s polling unit, political supporters clashed over the presence of a rival candidate.

In Ede, a BVAS malfunction created tension among AAC supporters.

Meanwhile, Fadahunsi’s latest comments have opened another debate about political pressure and voter privacy.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the most important issue now is preventing these isolated incidents from escalating as voting moves towards counting and collation.

The outcome of OsunDecides2026 will ultimately depend on the ballots cast by voters. Those ballots must be counted transparently, while every voter must be allowed to participate without fear, intimidation or political pressure.