The campaign council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised the alarm over the alleged presence of armed security personnel at the residence of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, on Saturday as voters went to the polls to elect the next governor.
The campaign council alleged that the security personnel arrived at the Speaker’s residence in more than 10 black Hilux vehicles and surrounded the building.
It further claimed that the residence was effectively sealed off, with people inside allegedly prevented from leaving.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the campaign council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, on Saturday.
The council, however, said it could not independently establish the reason for the deployment or determine whether the personnel were providing security or acting on official instructions.
“We have received reports that the residence of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has been surrounded by armed security personnel who reportedly arrived in more than 10 black Hilux vehicles,” the statement said.
“We have also been informed that the residence has effectively been sealed off, with everyone inside reportedly prevented from leaving the premises.”
The campaign council called on the security agencies involved in the election to immediately explain the reason for the deployment and the reported restriction of movement around the Speaker’s residence.
Olajengbesi said the council attempted to contact the Commissioner of Police overseeing election security in the state and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police responsible for the election but was unsuccessful.
He also said efforts to reach the Police Situation Room through the telephone number made available to the public were unsuccessful because the number was switched off.
The campaign council said the alleged deployment had created concern because it occurred on election day, when residents were already under movement restrictions imposed as part of the security arrangements for the governorship poll.
It urged the security agencies to ensure that their operations did not create fear or give the impression that political actors were being targeted.
“On this Election Day, the people of Osun State deserve an atmosphere free from fear and intimidation. Security deployments must inspire confidence and protect the integrity of the electoral process,” the council said.
It also called on residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding while waiting for the security authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the reported deployment.
“The people of Osun State must be allowed to come out peacefully and decide their future according to their own conscience, without intimidation or interference,” it added.
The allegation came as voters across Osun State cast their ballots in a keenly contested governorship election.
The election pits the incumbent, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, against several challengers, including the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The poll has attracted national attention because of the political importance of Osun and the close contest expected between the major parties.
Adeleke, who is seeking a second term, has campaigned on his record in office and urged voters to support his administration for another four years.
The APC and other opposition parties have also intensified their campaigns, with their candidates asking voters for a change of government.
The election has taken place against a background of political tension and allegations by rival parties over attempts to influence the process.
Security has consequently become a major issue, with thousands of police officers and other security personnel deployed across the state.
The police also announced a restriction of movement across Osun from midnight on Friday until 6pm on Saturday as part of measures to ensure a peaceful election.
The movement restriction was aimed at limiting the activities of political thugs, preventing violence and making it easier for security agencies to monitor activities during voting.
However, restrictions of this nature can also generate complaints when residents are stopped from moving or when security personnel are deployed around homes and other private locations.
The allegation involving the Speaker’s residence is therefore likely to attract attention because of his political position and the timing of the reported security operation.
Egbedun, as Speaker of the state House of Assembly, is one of the leading political figures in Osun State. His residence being allegedly surrounded by armed personnel on election day could raise concerns if the reported restriction was not part of the general security arrangements for the poll.
However, the campaign council itself acknowledged that it had not independently confirmed the reason for the deployment.
This means that the circumstances surrounding the presence of the security personnel remained unclear at the time of the allegation.
It was also not immediately known which security agency the personnel belonged to or whether the deployment was connected to any specific investigation, intelligence report or election security operation.
Security agencies are expected to clarify such incidents quickly during elections to prevent rumours from spreading and to maintain public confidence.
Election periods in Nigeria often witness allegations of intimidation and harassment by political parties, with rival camps accusing security agencies of either targeting their supporters or failing to protect them.
Such claims can increase tension, especially when they involve senior political officials.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has repeatedly stressed the need for a peaceful electoral environment and urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the rules governing the election.
Security agencies also have the responsibility of protecting voters, electoral officials and election materials while ensuring that their operations remain professional and impartial.
For the Adeleke campaign council, the immediate demand is for an explanation of what it described as an unusual deployment at the Speaker’s residence.
The council said security operations should reassure voters rather than create fear.
It also appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid actions that could worsen the situation while awaiting an official response.
As voting and the collation of results continue, the conduct of security agencies will remain under close watch.
The credibility of the Osun election will depend not only on the voting process but also on whether voters, candidates and political parties believe they were treated fairly.
Any allegation of intimidation or politically motivated security action could therefore become a major issue in the assessment of the election.
At the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the police or other security agencies to the campaign council’s allegation concerning the Speaker’s residence.
Further clarification from the security authorities is expected to establish why the personnel were deployed.