Tension gripped Osun State on Saturday as the Nigeria Police Force allegedly disrupted the local government elections, sealing the headquarters of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and arresting several staff members on election duty across the state.
The Chairman of OSSIEC, Hashim Abioye, made this startling revelation in a statement posted on the commission’s official X handle. According to him, the police intervention severely hampered the electoral process, delaying the arrival of accreditation materials at various polling units.
Despite the setback, Abioye commended the electorate for their resilience in coming out to vote, even as he expressed regret over the commission’s inability to provide accreditation materials on time. He blamed the disruption on the police, stating that OSSIEC’s headquarters—where the materials were stored—had been sealed off by security operatives.
“For the units where materials did not arrive early, it was due to the police arresting the officials conveying them. However, new materials have been deployed, and voting is now ongoing,” Abioye assured.
The police are yet to officially respond to the allegations, but the incident has raised concerns over the credibility and smooth conduct of the Osun LG elections.
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