Osun Poll: Accord Asks EU To Help Douse Rising Tension

The Accord Party has appealed to the European Union (EU) to intervene diplomatically to help de-escalate rising political tension and prevent electoral violence ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

In a letter dated August 12 and addressed to the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Migot, the party’s national chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, said the election was critical to Nigeria’s democratic development as the last major off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general election.

Mgbudem expressed concern over what he described as reports of political violence, intimidation, arrests, harassment and the alleged deployment of state institutions and security agencies in ways that had heightened tension and apprehension among political actors and residents.

According to him, at least 29 people have reportedly been killed, while several others sustained gunshot injuries in incidents allegedly connected to the political environment in Osun State.

The party also claimed that more than 60 of its members and supporters were arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State, calling for urgent clarification and independent scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the arrests.

The party further raised concerns over the alleged involvement of federal law-enforcement and regulatory institutions in actions it said were perceived by some political stakeholders as selective or partisan. It specifically cited reported searches of residences belonging to senior Osun government officials and the arrest and detention of some officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, who were later released following public concern.

Accord also referenced the reported freezing of Osun State Government bank accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), followed by what it described as a presidential directive to unfreeze the accounts after public criticism. The party said the episode had heightened concerns about the perceived use of state institutions in the political environment.

While acknowledging the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of law-enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, Mgbudem stressed that their actions during an election period must be demonstrably impartial, transparent and consistent with due process to avoid undermining public confidence.

The party also drew the EU’s attention to what it described as a viral video in which a sitting senator allegedly ordered that Accord members be killed wherever they were found. Accord argued that the alleged threat, alongside reported arrests and harassment of its members, could weaken the party’s ability to participate effectively in the election and undermine the level playing field required for a credible poll.

Accord urged the EU to publicly reaffirm the importance of a free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful Osun election and encourage political parties and their supporters to reject violence, intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric, hate speech and political provocation.

The party also called on the EU to encourage the Federal Government and security agencies to maintain political neutrality, while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to discharge its responsibilities independently and transparently, in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and applicable regulations. It further requested support for credible domestic and international observation of the election, accountability for individuals credibly established to have sponsored or perpetrated political violence, and respect for lawful mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.

Mgbudem said the situation required preventive diplomacy rather than intervention after damage had been done, arguing that timely international attention could encourage political actors to exercise restraint and reassure citizens that the international community was monitoring the credibility and peaceful conduct of the election.

Describing the Osun election as more than a contest for political office, the Accord chairman said the poll would serve as an important test of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct elections in which institutions remain neutral, political parties compete on a level playing field and citizens can vote without fear.

He warned that while a peaceful and credible election could strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of 2027, any perception that violence, intimidation, institutional bias or manipulation influenced the outcome could further erode public confidence and deepen political tensions.

Accord stressed that its appeal was not for the EU to support any political party or candidate, but to defend democratic principles, political pluralism, the rule of law and the right of Osun voters to freely choose their leaders.