Former Chair of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Associate Professor of Law, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, has expressed concern over the growing political tension ahead of the 15 August 2026 governorship election in Osun State, warning that the situation could undermine the credibility of the poll and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Akiyode-Afolabi called on political parties, candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders to act responsibly and ensure the election is conducted in a peaceful, transparent and credible manner.
Drawing on her experience in election observation and democratic governance, she said developments in the state exhibited several early warning signs commonly associated with electoral violence and urged swift collective action to prevent further deterioration.
She expressed concern over reports of election-related violence, inflammatory political rhetoric and growing public anxiety in the run-up to the election. According to her, official and security reports indicate that more than 20 people have reportedly lost their lives in politically motivated violence linked to the election.
Akiyode-Afolabi also highlighted a series of recent developments that she said had heightened public concern over the electoral environment. These include the reported freezing of an Osun State Government bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the deployment of about 15,000 police personnel, and the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, along with five others over alleged vote-buying. The suspects were later released.
She further cited the exchange of allegations among political actors as contributing to the tense atmosphere.
The legal scholar questioned the constitutional basis for the Nigeria Police Force to investigate alleged electoral offences and make arrests in such cases. She argued that the arrest of a senior government official during a sensitive stage of the electoral process could heighten political tension, deepen public suspicion and trigger reprisals among supporters if not handled with transparency, professionalism and strict adherence to the rule of law.
According to her, such actions also risk weakening public confidence in the fairness and credibility of the electoral process.
Although governorship candidates have signed a peace accord, Akiyode-Afolabi stressed that genuine commitment to peaceful elections must be reflected through responsible conduct rather than symbolic commitments.
“The true test of that commitment lies not in signing documents but in the actions of political leaders, their supporters, and the institutions responsible for safeguarding our democracy,” she said.
While maintaining a neutral position on the issues surrounding the election, she urged public institutions to ensure that every action taken during the election period is lawful, transparent and capable of strengthening public trust in the democratic process.
She also called on security agencies to remain professional, impartial and accountable to the Constitution, saying their role is to protect citizens and secure the electoral process without creating any perception of political bias or intimidation.
Akiyode-Afolabi urged INEC to continue demonstrating independence, transparency and professionalism, insisting that every valid vote must count and that the outcome of the election should reflect the freely expressed will of the electorate.
She further appealed to political leaders to de-escalate tensions, reject violence, hate speech and intimidation, and encourage their supporters to participate peacefully before, during and after the election.
“No political office is worth the life of a single Nigerian,” she said, urging all stakeholders to allow voters to freely choose their leaders while ensuring that public institutions remain neutral.
She added that the Osun governorship election represents another significant test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and called on all stakeholders to protect its integrity through responsible leadership, constitutional compliance and respect for the rule of law.
