#OsunDecides2026: Nigerian Soldiers Invade Ijebu-Ijesa Town During Voting Exercise, Accused Of Arresting Accord Party Members | Sahara Reporters
The campaign council described the development as an attempt to intimidate and suppress voters during the ongoing election.
The Imole Campaign Council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that unauthorised soldiers invaded Ijebu-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Area of the state on Saturday and arrested members of the Accord Party during voting.
The campaign council, in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said the incident occurred around noon when soldiers moved into polling units in Ijebu-Ijesa and began arresting Accord Party members who were present to exercise their right to vote.
According to the statement, the soldiers were led by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and were not among the troops officially deployed for election duties in Ijebu-Ijesa or the wider Oriade Local Government Area.
The campaign council described the development as an attempt to intimidate and suppress voters during the ongoing election.
The statement also noted that Ijebu-Ijesa is the hometown of Olajengbesi, who serves as spokesman for Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign.
The Imole Campaign Council said it had attached a video purportedly showing soldiers carrying out arbitrary arrests of Accord Party members during Saturday’s election.
The council condemned the military intervention, warning that soldiers should not be used as instruments by politicians seeking electoral advantage.
“The Imole Campaign Council finds this development unacceptable. Soldiers must not make themselves tools in the hands of desperate power-seeking politicians.
The campaign council subsequently called on the Chief of Army Staff to intervene immediately and halt the targeted arrest and intimidation of Accord Party members by soldiers allegedly being manipulated by APC members.
“We call on the Chief of Army Staff to stop the targeted arrest and intimidation of Accord Party members by soldiers manipulated by the APC,” Olajengbesi said.
#OsunDecide2026: Adeleke campaign asks security agencies to stop alleged intimidation by Fadahunsi
SECURITY AGENCIES MUST STOP SENATOR FADAHUNSI’S INTIMIDATION OF VOTERS
Nigerians and the rest of the world are alarmed at yet another sacrilege committed against democracy by Senator Francis Fadahunsi of Osun East Senatorial District on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Fadahunsi was… pic.twitter.com/ZX13QcljU6
— DukeOfOsun (@DukeOfOsun) August 15, 2026
The Imole Campaign Council has called on security agencies to intervene over an alleged attempt by Senator Francis Fadahunsi to intimidate voters during the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
The campaign council, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that Fadahunsi was seen and heard instructing supporters of the All Progressives Congress to monitor the choices of voters at his polling unit.
Fadahunsi represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
According to the statement, the incident occurred at Polling Unit 1, NUD Primary School, Collation Centre, Ilase-Ijesa, where the senator was participating in the election.
Olajengbesi alleged that Fadahunsi went further to direct his supporters to take action against voters who did not support the APC.
Attaching a video clip of the Senator’s purportedly giving the directive in post shared on X, the campaign council described the alleged conduct as an attempt to intimidate voters and undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
“Nigerians and the rest of the world are alarmed at yet another sacrilege committed against democracy by Senator Francis Fadahunsi of Osun East Senatorial District on Saturday, August 15, 2026,” the statement said.
The council alleged that Fadahunsi “was heard and seen instructing All Progressives Congress supporters at his polling unit 1, NUD Primary School, Collation Centre in Ilase-Ijesa to monitor the choices made by voters during the ongoing governorship election.”
It further alleged that the senator instructed his supporters to act against voters who were not supporting the APC.
“This is scandalous, unacceptable and undemocratic,” Olajengbesi said.
The campaign council urged security agencies deployed for the election to immediately intervene and prevent any alleged intimidation or harassment of voters.
“The security agencies must immediately stop the voter intimidation by Fadahunsi and his foot soldiers,” the statement said.
The council also referred to what it described as Fadahunsi’s previous controversial conduct, alleging that the senator had failed to learn from an earlier incident.
“One would have thought that he had learnt his lessons with his last despicable out but alas! A leopard never changes its spot!” Olajengbesi said.
The allegation comes as voters across Osun State participate in the governorship election amid heightened attention on the conduct of political actors, security agencies and electoral officials.
The Imole Campaign Council did not provide further details of the alleged instructions or state whether any voter had been physically attacked as a result of the incident.
The council’s call comes amid broader concerns about voter intimidation and interference during elections, with stakeholders urging security agencies to ensure that voters are allowed to cast their ballots freely and secretly without harassment, surveillance or inducement.