Politics

Two Years of Progress: Mbah’s Impact on Security and Infrastructure in Enugu State

Published

1 year ago

May 29, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah

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By Prince Ejeh Josh

When in April 2024, a syndicate – faculty and participants in the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 of the National Institute of Security and Strategic Studies (NISS) drawn from 26 agencies of 5 African countries; Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Chad and Rwanda – visited the Southeast zone to understudy the state of security affairs and draw strategic comparisons with their experiences (past and present), the West African security chiefs left some indelible impressions consequent upon the observation and evaluation the data they had collated.

Led by the directing NISS staff and syndicate supervisor, Bolarinwa Adekunle, the security team gave a graphic disconcerting observation of the state affairs in 2022 and what it was in April 2024 – less than a year after Governor Peter Mbah assumed office as the state’s security chief. Blending a panoramic imagery of a radical shift from the dreadful state of the past where renegade non-state actors held sway, unleashed reign of terror and laid siege on the nooks and crannies of the east to a state of freedom and liberation, Adekunle had this to say;

“I came to Enugu in 2022 as a participant of this prestigious course. We arrived in Enugu on a Sunday, and on Monday, we were made to stay in our hotel. We could not go anywhere. But, today, the situation is not the same.” Simple as the terse statement might appear, the coming of Mbah into office as governor was a redefining moment not just among residents of Enugu State but the span of the Southeast enclave.

Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah

The ante Mbah administration witnessed a state under suffocation and under the jugular of criminals who dictated the way of life of the people in what psychologists would refer as operant conditioning. It was an excruciating experience that the memory continues to haunt survivors of the ruthless villains. Life was literally shut down. Government appeared to have lost the grip of authority to the rampaging marauders. Schools were under lockdown in an apparent act of intellectual terrorism. The once burgeoning economy – market, industry, tourism – got smothered. People lived in perpetual fear. It’s a nightmare that even the relics of the Biafra war would not compare. And then came in quick succession the deafening silence of the inglorious sit-at-home where citizens and residents were forced to shudder and crouch under their bed for safety. Indeed, the governments’ authority at all levels in the southeast states was effectively strangulated by the terrorist group.

The situation appeared irredeemable dotted with daily gunshots. Hundreds of innocent civilians and security operatives were abruptly snuffed out. Constituted authorities were undermined and even cringed in cowardice for safety across the East. Regardless, sit-at-home orders were issued at the draconian whims and caprices of criminals; some of whom issued these orders from faraway foreign lands. Paralysed with fears, residents could only blow muted trumpets while maintaining unquestionable obedience to the dictates of the miscreants. Across the cities, towns and streets were the trail of the felons – silent streets deserted like ghost towns where war had consumed every breathing flesh. Only the grunts of newborns and the chirps of birds were heard from yonder. The solitariness of life in the East of the Niger was aptly related in A.E Housman’s work, “To an Athlete Dying Young,” where residents were described as “townsman of a stiller town,” a metaphor of a city where no life, no activity, no movement existed. In his 1920’s The Second Coming, the Irish poet, W.B Yeats, painted the gory atmosphere that bedeviled the East. “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”

Mbah flagging off infrastructure projects

It was in this state of confusion and anarchy that Mbah came in as governor. Dismayed by the reigns of terror, he proclaimed as unacceptable the continuous mortgage of lives of the citizens. He was resolute and committed to flushing out the hydra-headed monsters and put an end to their rampage. But like people long subjugated and mentally coerced by their tormentors, the decision to wrestle and “escort” the monsters out of the state and by extension, the Southeast zone, was resisted. They had accepted their fate of continuous whimpering. Mbah’s decision was very unpopular and the road he had decided to navigate to liberate his people was stormy.

In 1915, Robert Lee Frost, an American poet, published his well celebrated poem, The Road Not Taken, narrated how sojourners defined their journey of life. Competing and often conflicting choices are presented amidst uncertainty. The average human being is known to take the easy and popular path that resonates with peers and countrymen often borne out of the rave of the moment. In Mbah’s governing philosophy, he is known as an unapologetic – unrepentant, rightly added, nonconformist who defied conventions in his uncanny path to dismantling traditions of inefficiency through his disruptive innovation mantra. In May 2023, Mbah mounted the rostrum as a new governor offering inaugural speech, and one take away on the lips of every listener and watcher was the “business unusual” phrase.

When he commenced the radical architectural departure which began to disrupt the webs of underdevelopment, the conservative society was befuddled, questioning and grappling to unravel the riddles the administration was demonstrating. Months later, the recondite administrative reforms began to set the pace for an unprecedented optimism. With the security restructuring, enabled by the deployment of technology to preempt, thwart and eliminate crime the administration escorted criminal renegades out of the state. Sit-at-home became a memory consigned to the past. Life burgeons again! Economy, education, investment, infrastructure, and most importantly, emancipation from psychological slavery all became a dream fulfilled. That was the road less traveled, taken by Mbah. A sacrifice only few would muster the courage to make in the country.

On Sunday, 16 March, I was at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Independence Layout, Enugu, for the Holy Mass. During the homily, the priest announced the communique issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at its 1st Plenary held between 8 and 14 March in Abuja. The communique made some consequential observations on the state of the nation and called on the governments at all levels to prioritise security and safety of the citizens. Of interest was the tacit commendation of Enugu State Government over its security re-engineering which led to the deployment of high technology to fight crimes and guarantee life of the people. When the governor embarked on this journey, which today had attracted several states to Enugu to understudy the security infrastructure, it was, for many, a tall dream. Importing the American modern security system which is tech-driven and AI-enabled in gathering intelligence was probably the height of what no leader would ever imagine in the country. Mbah did. That was daring audacity of courage.

In my recent visit to some local government areas – Nsukka, Udi, Isi Uzo, Aninri, Igboeze South, Udenu, Awgu, Igboeze North, Uzo Uwani, Ezeagu and Igboetiti to inspect some of the projects the governor is executing, I had to make an intermittent stopover to look through surveillance security system mounted in the forests with the capability to orbit and monitor the entire state in real time and feed the Command and Control Centre. It is amazing the huge security spending the government is committing to maintain this infrastructure for the safety of the people regardless of remoteness of the part of the state they live.

This observation was corroborated by a retired army general from the Nsukka enclave – Major General Victor Ezeugwu. Speaking as discussant at a dialogue series organized by the Enugu State Coalition for Progress – Enugu North Senatorial Zone Branch, Maj. Gen. Ezeugwu recalled his experience at the Command and Control Centre, Enugu, which serves as the powerhouse where everything happening in the state is monitored through surveillance system.

According to him, “We had a meeting with the governor two days ago – the veterans from Nsukka across the services, from the Command and Control Centre in Enugu we watched Uzo Uwani and all the forests around Uzo Uwani and other areas. At least, all of us were very amazed that he has brought technology to bear on security. We have proposed to the governor, let all these senatorial zones in Enugu have a replica of that very particular, spectacular innovation and let all the local governments also have a field of technology in addressing insecurity.” This uncommon step taken by Governor Mbah is novel in the country with Enugu serving as a model state where other subnational states are visiting.

Only recently, a former senator from Enugu North senatorial district, Chuka Utazi, had narrated how he lost his way in the state as a result of the sudden shift in the development process which realigned the state’s landscape. The state of infrastructure was swamped with decay arising from years of leadership droughts and mismanagement. There was a great hue and cry among the residents of the state calling for intervention on the decaying state of infrastructure and total relapse of the economy.

In just two years, the magic was done. This rather was a magical moment, used figuratively to describe the science behind the disruption witnessed in the governance model that shattered that leadership ceiling in the state. Across the 260 electoral wards of the state, landmark projects worth billions of naira are on top gear. The state transitioned from its static stature of a stunted adult to one setting a giant pace in the country. Enugu became the beautiful bride where analysts and Nigerians point to as a rallying point for good governance.

That is a quick reminder of Ruchir Sharma’s “The Rise and Fall of Nations” which highlighted key indicators he called rules of thumbs to understanding a nation’s economic trajectory and the intentionality of triggering a shift from the cobwebs of established traditions to something novel and innovative. While the journey to disrupting the “incremental development process” became increasingly unpopular among the political leeches rationalised by their conservative prejudices was ongoing, Mbah’s will to recalibrate the state from a state belonging to a cartel of parasites to people-oriented society gives Enugu the shape it has taken in recent months.

From restoration of security confidence to re-tooling the economy, infrastructure, human capital development, youths’ upskilling and education, Enugu shot itself into the planetoid of governance, becoming a new beacon of hope; a city on the hill. Today, Enugu has maintained that reference point for good governance as people travel from other states to behold its magnificent sites and sweeping vistas made possible by the emerging governance model. Only a leader who is not just competent and disciplined but uncannily financially prudent can muster the courage to pick a state wobbling from years of abuse and plunder and remodel it within months to the envy of its contemporaries.

On April 29, at the Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance held at the Enugu International Conference Centre titled, “The Imperative of Good Governance: Nigeria in a Global Comparative Perspective”, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, having toured some of the facilities such as the Hotel Presidential, Enugu Smart City, Smart Green Schools, Transport Infrastructure Centre, 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, inspection of the newly procured Compressed Natural Gas buses, among others, described the Mbah as a governor genuinely transforming the state.

“Allow me the privilege of describing him (Mbah) as a truly performing governor. Yesterday, I was given glimpses of projects that have either been completed or in active progress towards completion. I saw an array of CNG buses at the Okpara Square. I saw Smart Green Schools, which I gather that the governor’s plan is to replicate in every electoral constituency (ward), and I learnt that there are as many as 260 of them. I was able to visit a state-of-the-art bus station at the Holy Ghost Terminal. So, I would say Governor Peter Mbah is genuinely transforming Enugu State, which used to be described as a civil service state. He is transforming it into an industrial, educational hub and agricultural innovation.”

In describing the governor’s selfless service, the President-General of Enugu State Development Association, Igwe Abel Nwobodo, an elder statesman, referred to the inspiring transformation the state is experiencing under the current dispensation. Moving Enugu from a public service status to private-driven economy appeared insane an idea to conceive looking at the incompatibility it posed. But Mbah had not only shown its possibility, Enugu state is priding itself as an investment hub with opportunities for local and international investors.

While those from the private and public sectors have something warm and positive to say about the governor from the prisms of his commitment and dedication to service, public servants – teachers, civil servants, retirees, local governments’ workers are not left out. They have found their voices through the governance structure set up by the Mbah administration to help them fulfill their dreams and live meaningful life. That’s the society where inclusion, equity, equality and justice reign.

Promotions of workers as at when due, salaries and emoluments, pensions and gratuities, including other incentives are now taken for granted under Mbah’s leadership. While not stopping there, the governor marshalled what is now known as, “Rural Dwellers’ Allowance” for teachers as a way of encouraging quality education among people in rural communities.

With the revolution happening in the agro-allied sector, 260 Smart Green Schools, 260 primary healthcare hospitals and other social services going on across all the electoral wards in the state – the first in the history of Nigeria – the coast to birthing an industrial state positioned as one of the future largest economies in Africa is a matter of time.

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Politics

Osun Election: APC, Accord wage N20,000-per-vote war

Published

6 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

FILE: Governor Ademola Adeleke and APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji

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The All Progressives Congress and Accord Party have been accused of engaging in a vote-buying jamboree across Osun State as agents of both parties offer voters between N10,000 and N20,000 ahead of today’s governorship election.

Unlike previous elections, the vote-buying started six days before the poll, according to Saturday Punch.

Some voters said the parties also collected the account numbers of thousands of voters a week before the election, with plans to credit them after voting.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is being challenged by Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress and nine other contestants.

A total of 1,906,390 voters who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards are expected to participate in the election.

Findings by our correspondents revealed that both Accord and the APC started distributing cash between Monday and Tuesday.

In some instances, the voter inducement, which included the distribution of food items and cash gifts, was laced with spirituality, as beneficiaries were forced to swear an oath to vote for the candidate of the party providing the items.

Our correspondents also came across viral videos in which supporters of Adeleke and Oyebamiji openly distributed cash, salt, rice and other items while asking beneficiaries not to betray them at the poll.

Ilesa

Voters in Ilesa told Saturday PUNCH that the APC was disbursing N20,000 per voter across polling units in Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Atakunmosa East LGAs.

According to some of the beneficiaries, the money was being distributed at the house of an appointed APC chieftain in each polling unit.

The voters disclosed that the vote-buying began on Tuesday and lasted until Friday.

One of the beneficiaries, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “I collected my N20,000 at the Bonnke area of Ilesa on Wednesday. The cash was in N1,000 and N500 denominations. We had over 200 voters and it was done unit by unit. I collected mine around 11am at the bungalow belonging to one of the APC chieftains in our unit.”

A human rights activist in Ilesa, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, confirmed the vote-buying.

“At the Coca-Cola area, people were given N20,000 each at one particular storey building. But you have to show your voter card before being paid.

“At Abiola Avenue, APC members gave N20,000 to each voter. I was there. The storey building where the money was shared belongs to an APC leader in the area,” he said.

At Iroye and Imo areas of Ilesa, it was gathered that the APC was distributing rice and an undisclosed amount of money to voters.

“I saw them. They are APC supporters. They provided money and rice, but I don’t know the exact amount they were distributing. They were cursing the beneficiaries, saying it would not be well with them if they failed to vote for AMBO after collecting the money,” a student leader in Iroye said.

Saturday PUNCH also gathered that while the APC was giving out N20,000, Accord was disbursing N10,000 to voters.

It was learnt that at Olowu Village in Atakunmosa East LGA, Accord distributed N10,000 and asked beneficiaries to swear an oath of allegiance three weeks ago.

One of the community leaders told Saturday PUNCH that Accord leaders were distributing the money without fear of arrest.

Some other residents in Ilesa also confirmed that the ruling party had begun distributing N10,000 at Ifofin, Iloro and Okesa, among other parts of the city, since Tuesday.

Speaking in the development, an APC chieftain in Ilesa West LGA confirmed the inducement but claimed it was meant for transportation.

“We are not buying votes. We only provided them with cash to transport themselves to their various polling units,” he said.

Osogbo

In Osogbo LGA, our correspondents gathered that the APC distributed N15,000 each to some voters across polling units in all 15 wards.

An APC chieftain involved in the distribution told one of our correspondents that the party appointed three leaders in each ward to coordinate the exercise.

The APC chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday, said, “We targeted 150 voters in every unit. We gave N15,000 each to 75 voters on Wednesday, and another 75 voters received N15,000 each on Thursday.

“That was not really for vote-buying; it was for feeding before election day. We know what to do on election day.”

Iwo

It was gathered that N700,000 was budgeted for vote-buying in each of the 170 polling units across the 15 wards in Iwo LGA by the APC.

According to an APC chieftain familiar with the process, the cash distribution began on Tuesday and was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report on Friday.

“A sum of N700,000 was provided per polling unit, and we have been distributing it at N15,000 per voter since Tuesday. We are systematic about it because the Accord Party is also distributing money,” he said.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that in Aiyedire LGA, Accord started distributing N10,000 to eligible voters across polling units on Monday.

“Both APC and Accord are distributing money, but APC has the upper hand because it is paying N15,000 against Accord’s N10,000. As for me, I collected from both parties in my polling unit at Ward 2 in Ileogbo,” a voter said on condition of anonymity on Thursday.

Similarly, over 200 women in Ileogbo, the headquarters of Aiyedire LGA, were offered N10,000 each by a group that asked them to vote for the APC.

In Ila, the headquarters of Ila LGA, it was gathered that both Accord and the APC had been inducing voters with cash ranging from N15,000 to N20,000.

While the APC was reportedly offering N15,000 per eligible voter, Accord offered N20,000.

The inducement, according to residents, began on Monday.

A resident said that he and his wife collected N20,000 each from Accord leaders.

“We were asked to swear an oath that we would vote for Adeleke. But we didn’t take any oath. So many others were given N10,000,” he said.

Another resident, who identified himself as Isaac Ibirogba, said Accord initially offered N10,000 per eligible voter before increasing it to N20,000 on Tuesday, while the APC was offering N15,000.

In Ile-Ife, a member of the Hausa community who also spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the APC was offering N15,000, while Accord offered N10,000 per voter.

He said both parties also requested Permanent Voter Cards before making payments.

“The APC people came to Sabo on Wednesday and, after interacting with some of us, they brought a bag containing cash. They requested our PVCs, but we told them we couldn’t give them. At the end of the day, they gave each of us N15,000. We were about 60,” he said.

Also, a medical doctor residing in the Iremo area of Ife said the APC began its cash distribution on Tuesday.

“I am aware that both parties started their cash distribution on Tuesday. Some of my people in Sabo, Ilare, Oluorogbo and Enuwa collected the money. APC offered N15,000, while Accord paid N10,000,” he said.

Ikire

In Ikire, the hometown of the APC candidate, Saturday PUNCH learnt that both the APC and the Accord Party were inducing voters with cash gifts ranging from N10,000 to N20,000.

A resident of the town, Oreoluwa Tolulope, said supporters of Oyebamiji and those of the senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Lere Oyewumi, flooded all the wards in the town with cash.

“APC is offering N15,000, while Accord is providing N10,000. They started about a week ago,” he said.

It was gathered that in Boluwaduro LGA, the Accord Party was offering N10,000 per eligible voter and asking beneficiaries to swear by the Ogun deity that they would vote for Adeleke.

However, the APC had yet to commence cash distribution as of the time of filing this report, although two chieftains in the council said the party had budgeted N10,000 per voter.

In Ede, Adeleke’s hometown, Accord started distributing N10,000 to eligible voters as far back as two weeks ago, according to many residents.

It was learnt that the party initially asked voters to form groups of 100 and offered each group N1m before resorting to paying N10,000 to individuals at polling units.

Similarly, the APC began offering N15,000 per eligible voter on Tuesday in a move aimed at attracting more voters.

One of the APC leaders in Ede, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Friday, said, “The Adeleke people have been distributing N10,000 for the past two weeks. We waited to see how far they could go, and we decided to give them a run for their money. We started distributing N15,000 on Tuesday, and that will continue until election day.”

Last week, an APC chieftain, Alhaja Falilat Yusuf, popularly known as Ero-Arike, was seen in a viral video distributing bags of rice to women and urging them to vote for Oyebamiji.

She also placed curses on anyone, especially women, who collected the rice but failed to vote for the APC candidate.

Similarly, some voters were seen taking an oath while collecting cash to vote for Adeleke.

Police warn against vote-buying

Meanwhile, the police warned politicians and voters against vote-buying, saying anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, stated this on Friday while speaking with journalists at the Osun State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo after addressing officers deployed for the election.

He described vote-buying as an electoral offence that would not be tolerated.

Iniedu also pledged adequate security for INEC ad hoc staff and National Youth Service Corps members throughout the electoral process.

Eight killed in one week, soldiers deployed

Saturday PUNCH gathered that no fewer than eight persons were killed between Monday night and the early hours of Friday in Ilesa and Esa-Oke.

At about 8pm on Monday, three persons identified simply as Idowu, Yinka and Eja were killed around the Imo area of Ilesa.

Similarly, two persons were killed around the Boluwaduro area of Ilesa on Wednesday.

An Accord supporter in Ilesa, Sunday Obube, and another person were also reportedly killed by suspected political thugs on Thursday.

In the same vein, Dele Ayegbo, a nephew of the APC Governorship Campaign Director-General, Wole Oke, was reportedly killed in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area, on Wednesday.

Also, gunmen reportedly shot dead one Osaretine Obasohan at Oni Eran Area, Ilesa on Friday.

Residents said Obasohan was walking on the road when the assailants, said to be travelling in a vehicle, shot him at close range.

During a telephone interview, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the killing, which he linked to cult clashes.

“He (victim) was also suspected to be a cultist. The incident happened early this morning (Friday) around 7am at Omi Eran area,” he added.

Checks by the reporter indicated that soldiers with Armoured Personnel Carrier were deployed in the Osun/Kwara boundary in Ora, Ifedayo LGA over rising tension in the state.

Soldiers were also deployed in large numbers to Esa-Oke, Ilesa, Ikoyi, a community along Osun/Oyo, and Owens, an Osun/Ondo boundary community, among others.

Commenting on the deployment of security to especially flash points across the state.

Adeleke, Oyebamiji camps trade tackles over planned attacks

Also, the campaign council of the APC on Friday accused Governor Adeleke of keeping suspected hoodlums in the Government House in Osogbo.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, a member of the media committee of the APC campaign council, Kehinde Ayantunji, called on the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Director General of Department of Service, Adeola Ajayi, to immediately act on the complaint before the suspects were relocated to another place.

“As I am talking to you now, we have intelligence that a large number of political thugs have been mobilised into the Government House. In the last two hours, they have been moving in and out, and our intelligence has confirmed that most of these people are not from these states.

“The two individuals who led those thugs are Olowe and Iberu; these are the codenames given to them at the Government House this afternoon.

“We have no hesitation in concluding that some of these suspected political thugs are imported from Lagos with the registration numbers of these five groups. We are not just raising this alarm, we have double-checked our intelligence and we have pictorial evidence of what we are saying here this afternoon.

“The target is simple, having realised the imminent defeat in the state’s capital territory, that is Osogbo, Irepodun and Egbedore, the agenda is to mobilise them with funds and ammunition to destabilise Ward 5, Osogbo Local Government; Ward 4, Ward 8, Okini, in Egbedore Local Government, Ido Osun, and Ofatedo Local Government,” Ayantunji said.

However, the Accord Party bemoaned alleged statewide attacks on members and supporters and the attendant consequences on their lives and property across the state.

The state chairman of the party, Pastor Victor Akande, raised the alarm that political thugs had continued to unleash mayhem on members and supporters of his party, alleging that in addition to the killings, several others were wounded and were receiving treatment across different local government areas of the state.

Akande, in a statement on Friday, alleged that several houses across the state had also been attacked, vandalised and looted, while some had been pencilled for attack ahead of the election.

He said, “At Osogbo, five names of top appointees of Accord candidate, Ademola Adeleke, have been pencilled down for attacks and arrest. As of yesterday (Thursday), a manhunt was launched for one of the top appointees. Heavily armed thugs launched sporadic gun attacks across Obokun LGA, Odo Otin LGA, Boripe LGA, Irewole LGA and several others.

“At Iree town, gun attacks took place all through the night with many Accord members injured while the palace of Aree of Iree was attacked with multiple gun attacks from all corners. Five injuries were reported in the palace. At Obokun, attacks and killings have continued unabated with several houses burnt at Esa Oke. The violence started two days ago with the security agencies unable to contain it.

“At Odo Otin, the attacks took place at Okuku and other towns with over 20 Accord members receiving treatment for various gunshots. At Ikire, the house of 25 Accord members were raided and their family members molested while the houses were openly vandalised. The attack did not spare the house of the Director General of the campaign, Senator Lere Oyewumi.

“At Ifewara, a thug, who was arrested and later released, was reported to have coordinated sporadic attacks on the Accord members and their residences. Several injuries were reported.”

Election may not be credible — YIAGA Africa

Analysing the events leading to the election, the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, expressed concern that the outcome of the poll might not be credible, citing widespread vote-buying and violence.

He lamented what he described as the “alarming rate” of voter inducement and political violence, condemning the development as the weaponisation of poverty and the monetisation of politics.

Itodo warned that attempts to undermine electoral institutions and create an atmosphere of intimidation could affect the credibility of the election.

“YIAGA Africa is very worried about the alarming rate of voter inducement and violence in the build-up to this election. This weaponisation of poverty and attempt to monetise politics is highly disturbing, and we urge voters to vote their conscience.

“When politics is determined by the highest bidder and the highest tender, what suffers is governance, transparency, integrity and accountability,” he said.

Itodo also raised concerns over the level of violence recorded in the state, noting that 34 deaths had been linked to the build-up to the election.

“Osun is currently tense and highly competitive, signposted by violence. When you have attempts to undermine institutions from performing their constitutional functions, what you get is a questionable outcome,” he added. Saturday PUNcH

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OSUN POLL: Serving Senator threatens to kill Accord Party members on election day

Published

4 days ago

August 11, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Francis Fadahunsi

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The senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, has warned against the activities of members of the Accord Party in Ilesha ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Fadahunsi, who spoke in Yoruba while addressing supporters in Ilesha, said there would be trouble if members of the Accord Party were seen in the area, urging his supporters to come out and vote during the election.He also called on those present to record his statement, while making a remark that suggested his supporters would confront Accord Party members if they encountered them before the election.“If we hear of Accord Party members coming to Ilesha, there will be trouble. We will all come out and vote. Please record me. We are here, and between now and the election, if we see anyone from the Accord Party, we will kill them,” he said.The statement comes amid heightened political activities in Osun State ahead of the governorship election, with political parties intensifying campaigns and mobilisation of supporters across the state.Fadahunsi is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and currently represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Fadahunsi clarifies comments

However, following intense criticisms of the senator’s threat, Fadahunsi, made a clarification on the intention behind his now-viral ‘Kill Accord’ comment currently circulating in a video on social media.

In the video, Fadahunsi was seen speaking in Yoruba and heard accusing Accord Party members of attacking members of the All Progressives Congress, as he urged the gathering to attack Accord Party supporters in Ilesa.

He was also seen daring those present to record his remarks and share them on social media, while reportedly addressing APC supporters in Ilesa ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.

In a statement by his media office in the state capital on Tuesday, titled ‘Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,’ the senator said his viral comment was “a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement added.

It noted that the comment didn’t portray the lawmaker as an advocate of violence against any member of the public or political party.

Fadahunsi urged the APC supporters to maintain law and order over the course of the election, as he called on security operatives to allow voters to exercise their constitutional rights.

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OSUN POLL: ‘I’m bulldozer, not afraid of FG, governors backing APC candidate’ — Adeleke

Published

4 days ago

August 11, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke

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Accord Party governorship candidate in the Osun State governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that he is not intimidated by the alleged support of the Federal Government and some state governors for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Adeleke described himself as a “bulldozer”, saying he was prepared to face what he described as federal might and the influence of governors backing his opponent.

The governor stated this on Tuesday during the Arise Townhall Meeting, where he also said he was not afraid of the governors supporting the APC candidate.

“I am a bulldozer. I am talk and do. I am not afraid of federal might and governors backing the APC candidate. If they like, they should bring all the governors,” Adeleke said.

He said the governors were his friends and expressed confidence that their presence in Osun would not determine the outcome of the election.

“Those governors are my friends. I am a civilised administrator. They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet,” he said.

Adeleke also rejected allegations that his administration had militarised Osun State, saying he lacked the authority to deploy the armed forces.

“I did not militarise Osun. I have no such capacity. I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” he said.

The governor’s comments came amid heightened political activities ahead of the Osun governorship election, with the major political parties intensifying their campaigns and mobilisation across the state.