Enough is Enough Nigeria has condemned the escalation of political threats, intimidation and reported violence in the final days of the governorship election in Osun State.
The organization, in a statement, said the developments are occurring against a broader pattern of electoral violence in the state.
Citing data from the Kimpact Development Initiative, EiE noted that 44 election-related violent incidents were recorded in Osun between October 2025 and June 2026, resulting in 13 fatalities, with 26 of these incidents occurring in May and June alone.
The organization referenced recent incidents involving Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the All Progressives Congress representing Osun East, who was captured on video in Ilesa making remarks interpreted as a threat against members of the Accord Party.
The Osun State Police Command subsequently invited Fadahunsi for questioning over the remarks before releasing him.
EiE noted that while the senator’s media office described the comments as a political metaphor for defeating Accord at the polls, Fadahunsi himself described the video as AI-generated.
“So which is it? A political metaphor or an AI-generated video?” the organization asked.
In a separate incident, Francis Eniade, the APC candidate for Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, was recorded at a campaign rally warning Accord Party members against voting in Odo-Otin Local Government Area on election day.
The remarks prompted Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Egbedun to petition the Inspector-General of Police over alleged threats arising from the incident.
There have also been reports and images alleging that Eniade was subsequently attacked in an incident linked to the Speaker’s camp, with claims of injuries and damage to vehicles.
EiE described the combination of threats, attempts at voter intimidation and allegations of retaliatory violence in the final days before the election as deeply concerning.
“No political competition should put citizens in a position where they must choose between exercising their right to vote and their personal safety,” the organization said.
The group called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to investigate all reported threats, intimidation and violence impartially, including the allegations involving Fadahunsi, Eniade and other political actors.
It insisted that where offences are established, those responsible must be held accountable irrespective of political affiliation or position.
EiE also urged the Inspector-General of Police and security leadership in Osun to use the remaining hours before the poll to de-escalate tensions and ensure adequate and professional security throughout the electoral process, including the movement of voters and election personnel, polling units, election materials, and the counting and collation of results.
The organization called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide clear and timely information on voting and collation arrangements, particularly in areas where political tensions have been reported, and to ensure that election officials can perform their duties without intimidation or interference.
It further urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to immediately reject threats and violence and give clear instructions to their supporters, agents, and political networks to respect every citizen’s right to vote, adding that any dispute arising from the election must be pursued through lawful channels.
Addressing voters directly, EiE urged the people of Osun not to allow political intimidation to keep them away from the ballot.
“Your vote belongs to you. No candidate, party or political supporter has the right to determine who you vote for or whether you vote at all,” the organization said.
It advised voters to plan ahead, know their polling units and how to get there safely, noting that the platform gotomypu.com is available to help Osun voters locate their polling units and get directions.
EiE said it is deploying trained citizen observers across Local Government Areas in Osun State as part of its election observation effort.
The observers will monitor the process before, during and after voting, with particular attention to voter access, intimidation and violence, polling-unit procedures, counting and the collation of results.
“The August 15 election must be decided by voters, not by threats, intimidation or violence. Every Osun voter should be able to cast their ballot freely and safely, and every political actor must respect that right,” the statement concluded.
EiE Nigeria said it will continue to observe, document and speak up throughout the electoral process.
