Ayofe Abdullah
As political campaigns gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election, concerns are mounting over the growing wave of violence, killings, and thuggery that could mar the electoral process if urgent measures are not taken.
Recent clashes in Owode-Ede, Ile-Ife, and Osogbo have heightened tensions across the state. Reports indicate that at least three persons were shot while several others sustained injuries during the violent confrontations.
The incidents have sparked a war of accusations between the major political parties, with each side blaming the other for the unrest. While the Osun State Government has accused the Commissioner of Police of taking sides in the political crisis, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, has alleged that the ruling party is deploying political thugs to intimidate opponents.
Observers have warned that unless political leaders, security agencies, and stakeholders act responsibly, the state may witness a further escalation of violence as campaigns intensify. They have therefore called for neutrality on the part of security agencies and urged political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns in the interest of peace and democratic stability.
With the election season fast approaching, many residents are expressing fears that the recurring clashes could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and threaten the peace for which Osun State has long been known.