A physical confrontation broke out on Saturday at the polling unit of Osun State Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi in Ile-Ife after the arrival of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Benjamin Kayode Adereti.
Adereti had reportedly voted earlier at his designated polling unit, Waasin Polling Unit 11, Ilaare Ward 3, before proceeding to Adewusi’s polling location.
According to a video shared by Daily Post and reports, his arrival was met by resistance from some supporters of Adewusi, the Accord Party deputy governorship candidate, leading to an exchange of words and a physical confrontation.
The altercation briefly disrupted activities at the polling unit, with tensions rising among supporters before security agents intervened.
The reason for Adereti’s visit to the polling unit could not immediately be established.
The incident is particularly significant because the confrontation occurred at a polling location where security personnel had been deployed as part of measures to prevent violence and maintain order during the governorship election.
The ICIR contacted the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun, Ojelabi Abiodun, specifically seeking answers as to how a physical confrontation could occur at a polling unit despite the heavy deployment of security across Ile-Ife, but Abiodun requested that the questions be sent via WhatsApp. The questions were subsequently sent to him, but he had not responded as of the time of filing this report. Calls placed afterwards were also unanswered.
The incident came against the backdrop of heightened concerns over the conduct of the Osun election, with political parties and other stakeholders repeatedly urged to maintain peace.
INEC had also urged political parties and stakeholders to comply with the rules governing the election, while the commission’s official election schedule confirms that the governorship poll is being conducted on August 15, 2026.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.