Osun election: APC running mate causes fight at deputy gov's polling unit

The governorship election in Osun State took an ugly turn this morning when a fight broke out at the polling unit of the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, in Ile-Ife. The trouble started when the APC deputy governorship candidate, Benjamin Kayode Adereti, decided to show up at Adewusi's polling unit after casting his own ballot at Waasin Polling Unit 11, Ilaare Ward 3.

According to reports, Adereti's presence was met with resistance from Adewusi's supporters, and things quickly escalated into a heated confrontation. The peaceful atmosphere at the polling location was briefly disrupted as supporters exchanged words and tensions rose. At the time of filing the report, the reason for Adereti's visit could not be ascertained, but it clearly unsettled some of the deputy governor's supporters.

This is exactly the kind of incident that undermines confidence in our electoral process. When candidates cannot even visit a polling unit without sparking violence, what hope do ordinary voters have? I have seen elections in this country since the First Republic, and I can tell you that this pattern of provocation is a familiar one. The question now is whether the security agencies will take this incident seriously and ensure that no one is allowed to disrupt the will of the people in Osun State.