Tension reportedly gripped Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State on Saturday after an alleged political thug identified as “Big Hammer” disrupted voting at the polling unit of African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Najeem Salam.
The incident occurred as voters across the state participated in the ongoing Osun governorship election.
According to reports, the disruption sparked panic among voters, party agents and residents at the polling unit, with some reportedly fleeing the area for safety.
A video circulating on social media showed people running in different directions as they attempted to escape the scene. One person in the footage claimed that some voters were forced to jump over a fence while fleeing the area.
“We had to jump the fence to escape, this is very uncalled for,” the person was heard saying.
Another video reportedly showed a damaged vehicle, while residents expressed frustration over the alleged violence and destruction surrounding the electoral process.
The development has raised fresh concerns about the safety of voters and election officials, particularly amid other reports of alleged intimidation and disruptions in parts of Osun State.
The incident also comes against the backdrop of allegations by Governor Ademola Adeleke that there was an attempt to interfere with the election.
Adeleke, shortly after casting his ballot in Ede North Local Government Area, alleged that a police officer identified as “London” had been brought from Port Harcourt to disrupt voting in the state.
The governor urged the Inspector-General of Police and other security authorities to investigate the allegation and closely monitor the situation.
The allegations have not been independently verified, while the APC has not been established as responsible for the reported incident at Salam’s polling unit.
As voting and the subsequent collation process continue, attention is now focused on security agencies to prevent further violence, protect voters and ensure that the outcome of the election reflects the ballots legitimately cast by the electorate.
The reported incident has once again highlighted concerns over the activities of political thugs during elections and the need for security personnel to safeguard polling units across Osun State.
