Osun

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United Kingdom has praised the conduct of the Osun State governorship election and congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.

The British High Commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday after the poll, noting that it had engaged various stakeholders before election day and deployed accredited observers to monitor the exercise.

The commission said its observers recorded several positive developments that were also identified by credible independent observer groups that monitored the election across the state.

“Based on their observations, and consistent with the findings of credible independent observer groups with wider deployments across the state, we welcome several encouraging signs of a positive democratic process,” the statement reads.

“This includes the opening of polls as scheduled in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order, and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials.

“Most of all, we were encouraged by the patience, resilience and participation demonstrated by voters throughout the day.”

Despite the positive assessment, the British High Commission said it observed reports of isolated incidents that caused tension before and during the election.

It listed some of the concerns as voter interference, vote-buying involving different political parties, inadequate access for persons with disabilities and elderly voters, as well as congestion linked to the rapid deployment and limited availability of BVAS devices for accreditation.

The commission called on relevant Nigerian institutions to examine the challenges and use the findings to improve public confidence in the electoral system.

It also urged authorities to consider recommendations from civil society organisations, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.

The UK mission cautioned that some of the advantages available during an off-cycle election may be difficult to reproduce during a nationwide election.

“As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, we note that off-cycle elections benefit from the availability of additional personnel and resources that may be more difficult to replicate at nationwide scale,” the statement reads.

“We nevertheless hope that the experience of the Osun election will help inform further improvements that strengthen the integrity, inclusiveness and credibility of future electoral processes.”

The British High Commission reaffirmed the UK’s readiness to work with Nigeria’s electoral bodies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections.

It said such cooperation would also support efforts to strengthen the democratic institutions that underpin Nigeria’s electoral system.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has uploaded 2,897 polling unit results from the Osun State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal.

The figure represents 76.99 per cent of the 3,763 results expected from polling units across the state.

As of 7:24pm on Saturday, checks on the portal showed that the number of uploaded results had risen from 2,266, representing 60.22 per cent, recorded about an hour earlier.

The latest upload was recorded at 7:21:09pm from polling unit 29/08/08/001 in Ife North Local Government Area.

The uploads came as the collation of results continued across the 30 local government areas of the state.

The election is being closely monitored through the IReV platform, which allows polling unit results to be accessed by the public as they are uploaded.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is seeking another term in office against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji; the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam; and other contenders.

The commission’s Result Stats section showed continuous updates as more results were uploaded from polling units. Users can refresh the portal to view the latest figures.

The development comes as voters, political parties and election observers await the completion of the result collation process and the eventual declaration of the winner.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has cautioned against the use of excessive security force or government institutions to gain political advantage in the Osun State governorship election.

Atiku spoke at the ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, where he described the August 15 election as an important test of Nigeria’s commitment to credible elections ahead of the 2027 general election.

He questioned the scale of security deployment around the poll, saying the posture appeared closer to a military operation than a democratic exercise.

“Elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents,” Atiku said.

‘POLICE, MILITARY BELONG TO NIGERIA’

The former vice-president also questioned why similar security resources were not directed towards terrorists, kidnappers and bandits who attack communities and kill Nigerians.

He warned security personnel against intimidating opposition supporters or allowing government institutions to influence the outcome of the election.

“The police belong to Nigeria. The military belongs to Nigeria. INEC belongs to the Nigerian people. None of them belongs to the APC,” he said.

Atiku called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that election materials reach polling locations on time and that eligible voters can cast their ballots without obstruction.

He also urged the commission to prevent what he described as “mysterious glitches, unexplained delays or manipulation” during accreditation, vote counting and the transmission of results.

“The world is watching Osun. Nigerians are watching. History is taking notes. Let the people vote. Let every vote count. And let the will of the people prevail,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate also spoke about his plans to increase the participation of young people in politics.

He said his political programme would provide that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates be below 40 years old, with a substantial number below 30.

Atiku urged Nigerian youths to turn their frustration into active political participation instead of limiting their engagement to social media.

“Anger is not an organisation. A hashtag is not an organisation. Your time is not tomorrow. Your time is now,” he added.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the bank account of the Osun State government, citing ongoing investigations into alleged fraudulent handling of public funds totalling N11 billion.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the anti-graft agency said it has been investigating the state government since March 2026 over suspected mismanagement of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

According to the EFCC, several state officials, including the Accountant General, have already been interviewed by investigators as part of the probe.

The Commission explained that the freezing order became necessary after it observed “precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds” from the state’s accounts to various suspicious corporate entities beginning August 2, 2026.

“The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” the statement read.

Acknowledging the timing of the action, which comes ahead of the state’s governorship election, the EFCC maintained that its preventive mandate supersedes political considerations.

“The Commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged,” the statement said, adding that it would be “uncharitable” to use the upcoming election as an excuse to abandon its legally-assigned functions.

The EFCC further disclosed that it is monitoring the finances of other states similarly, noting that several state governments are currently on its investigative radar.

“The Commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians,” the statement emphasized.

The anti-graft agency urged the public to disregard “false narratives and deliberate demonization” of its work, insisting that the account freeze was implemented to protect public funds from being looted.

The Osun State Police Command says it has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five other suspects over alleged vote-buying ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The police also said officers recovered ₦4.81 million, a laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, voter cards and a voter register during an operation at a residence linked to the SSG in Osogbo.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation followed intelligence reports about suspected criminal activities around the Oroki Estate area of the state capital.

“Acting on credible and actionable intelligence that some criminal gang were hibernating around Oroki Estate Area, Osogbo, operatives of the Command carried out a lawful operation within the environs while one suspect identified as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa,” who has been on the watch-list in connection with serious criminal offences including murder and others at a residential property linked to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Osun State,” the statement read.

“During the operation, officers recovered exhibits comprising cash sum of four million eight hundred ten thousand, five hundred naira (N4,810,500), one Dynabook Laptop, one Photocopy Machine, one Printer, two Voter’s Card and voter register for Ward 1-15.

“These exhibits have been secured and are currently in police custody for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.

“The operation also led to the arrest of the following suspects: Hon Igbalaye Teslim ‘m’ 47years, One Akande Taiwo ‘m’ 60years, Oladele Abiodun ‘m’ 38years, Adeyemo Lukman ‘m’ 45years, Olaoye Muftau ‘m’ 50years, Aderemi Musliu ‘m’ 40years.

“The suspect was found within the premises during the operation and has since been taken into lawful custody.”

According to the police, the cash recovered alongside the voter register has raised concerns about possible electoral offences and other criminal activities.

“While investigations are still ongoing, the facts presently available disclose reasonable grounds to investigate the commission of offences which may include: Bribery of Voters (Vote Buying) contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, arising from the alleged distribution of money or other inducements to registered voters for the purpose of influencing their voting decisions,” Ojelabi said.

“Criminal conspiracy, where two or more persons are found to have agreed to commit an unlawful act.

“Harbouring or concealing a Wanted Criminal, where any individual is found to have knowingly sheltered or assisted a fugitive from justice. Any other offences that may be disclosed upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”

The police spokesperson described the allegations as serious and said investigators were working to identify everyone connected with the recovered items, determine the source of the money and establish its intended use.

He added that the command would enforce the law without bias.

“No individual, irrespective of social status, political affiliation, or public office, is above the law,” he said.

“Any person found culpable at the conclusion of investigations will be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all applicable laws.”

Ojelabi also urged residents to remain peaceful and continue providing useful information that could help security agencies maintain law and order and ensure credible elections.

The arrests come amid heightened political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

However, the Osun State Government has condemned the police action. The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, accused the police of unlawfully invading the residences of the SSG and several commissioners.

He described the operations as “gestapo operations” and alleged that officers carried out the raids without obtaining proper search warrants.

“The Osun state government has raised alarm over systematic invasion, attacks and bursting of homes of top Osun state government officials by the Osun state police command without proper search warrant, with the latest being the invasion of the house of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),” the statement read.

Alimi said ward officials were holding a meeting at the SSG’s residence when the operation took place. He added that Igbalaye was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ forum at the time.

The commissioner also alleged that the police had searched the residence of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire and that five other commissioners had reported surveillance and raids on their homes.

He further claimed that several members of the Accord Party were being held in police custody without bail.

Describing the incidents as “an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun state” and a “grave danger” to Nigeria’s democracy, Alimi accused the police command of acting in a partisan manner.

He alleged that “by openly launching attacks on Osun government officials, the state police command has again confirmed its partiality, its partisanship and its becoming a direct tool in the hands of Osun APC”.

Alimi called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and traditional rulers in the state to intervene.

“This must be stopped before it escalates into a general breakdown of law and order,” he added.

By Uzair Adam

The Osun State Police Command has detained a man identified as Saudi for allegedly killing his father in a farm located in Ilusi village.

This shocking incident marks a rare and tragic occurrence for the local community.

According to sources, the deceased, known as Baale, was reported missing on Thursday after heading to the farm earlier in the day.

When he did not return home, a search team was organized, consisting mostly of village youth.

On Friday, the search team discovered Baale’s headless body on the farm, partially covered with palm leaves.

Ismail Olaolu, a resident of the village, disclosed that suspicions quickly fell on Baale’s son, who had accompanied him to the farm.

After being questioned, the son reportedly admitted to the killing.

Items belonging to the deceased, including his motorcycle and a cocoa harvest, were found beside his body.

The suspect has since been handed over to the police, who continue to investigate.

Osun State police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that the suspect remains in custody as inquiries continue into the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident.