What Osun politicians should avoid ahead of August 15 governorship election

By Ismail Azeez

As the political atmosphere in Osun State heats up ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election, a growing exchange of accusations between the ruling Accord Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has exposed the dangers of unhealthy competition.

This friction highlights an urgent need for restraint among political actors to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The latest controversy involves allegations of coordinated vandalism of campaign billboards across various parts of the state, raising serious concerns about the direction of political engagement.

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has accused the APC of sponsoring violence, intimidation, and the destruction of campaign materials.

In arebuttal, the APC dismissed these claims as false, baseless, and desperate, accusing the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of self-vandalism and using political propaganda to distract from its failures.

TICC claimed to have reliable information that a notorious thug, allegedly aided by compromised security operatives, coordinated the destruction of their materials.

“The people of Osun State must pay close attention to the desperation consuming the Osun APC. Having failed to inspire the people with a meaningful agenda, and overwhelmed by the massive acceptance Governor Adeleke continues to enjoy, the APC appears determined to embrace intimidation and fear tactics,” the campaign council alleged.

The council further described these acts as a direct threat to democratic engagement and peaceful participation in the electoral process.

Conversely, the Osun State APC Governorship Campaign Council insisted that the campaign materials of their candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), have suffered repeated attacks by thugs linked to the state government.

The opposition party maintained that the government’s allegations are a diversionary tactic aimed at masking the victimization of APC supporters.

Beyond the immediate accusations and counter-accusations, a significant lesson remains: politicians in Osun State must avoid actions and utterances capable of threatening peace, deepening political hatred, or undermining democratic values.

Elections should not become a battlefield where supporters attack opponents or intimidate voters. For a successful democratic transition, politics must remain an avenue for the exchange of ideas rather than a platform for violence and fear.

As the August 15 poll approaches, the stability of Osun State depends on the ability of its leaders to prioritize the safety of the electorate over partisan desperation.