The final hours of the Osun governorship election took a tense turn on Saturday morning after the Imole Campaign Council raised concerns over the reported deployment of heavily armed security operatives to the residence of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
The campaign council, which is backing Governor Ademola Adeleke, alleged that more than 10 black Hilux vehicles carrying security personnel arrived at Egbedun’s residence early Saturday and surrounded the premises.
The allegation, coming on election day, immediately raised questions over the reason for the unusual security presence and whether the reported operation was connected to the conduct of the election.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Imole Campaign Council said it had received reports that the Speaker’s residence had effectively been sealed off.
“We have received reports that the residence of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has been surrounded by armed security personnel who reportedly arrived in more than 10 black Hilux vehicles.”
The council further alleged that people inside the residence were being prevented from leaving.
“We have also been informed that the residence has effectively been sealed off, with everyone inside reportedly prevented from leaving the premises,” it added.
Campaign Council Demands Answers
Despite the alarm raised, the campaign council acknowledged that it had not independently established the reason for the deployment.
It said it remained unclear whether the security personnel had been sent to protect the Speaker, carry out a routine operation or execute another official assignment.
That uncertainty, according to the council, was precisely why the relevant security authorities needed to speak publicly.
The TICC called on security agencies to immediately explain the deployment and clarify reports that movement into and out of Egbedun’s residence had been restricted.
The council said it attempted to contact the publicly available telephone number of the Commissioner of Police overseeing election security in the state but received no response.
It also said attempts to reach the Deputy Inspector-General of Police responsible for the election were unsuccessful.
According to the campaign council, its attempt to contact the Police Situation Room through the publicly released telephone number also failed, as the line was reportedly switched off.
Why The Timing Is Raising Eyebrows
The development comes as voters across Osun head to polling units to determine who will govern the state for the next four years.
With security heightened across the state and political tensions already elevated, reports of armed personnel surrounding the home of a key political figure are likely to attract considerable attention.
For the campaign council, the issue is not simply about the presence of security personnel.
It is about what the deployment means on an election day — and whether residents should interpret it as protection or intimidation.
The council stressed that it had no confirmed explanation for the operation but said the lack of information was itself troubling.
‘Osun Deserves An Atmosphere Free From Fear’
The Adeleke campaign urged security authorities to provide an immediate explanation, warning against anything that could create fear among voters.
“On this Election Day, the people of Osun State deserve an atmosphere free from fear and intimidation.”
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It added that security deployments should reassure voters rather than raise questions about the safety and freedom of political actors.
“Security deployments must inspire confidence and protect the integrity of the electoral process.”
The campaign council ultimately appealed for restraint and urged authorities to allow voters to participate freely.
“The people of Osun State must be allowed to come out peacefully and decide their future according to their own conscience, without intimidation or interference.”
For now, the purpose of the reported deployment remains unclear based on the information provided by the campaign council.
But with Osun voters casting their ballots today, the unanswered question surrounding Egbedun’s residence has added another layer of tension to an election already being watched closely across Nigeria.