ADC candidate Salaam escapes as Osun election turns violent

The ADC governorship candidate Najeem Salaam was whisked away by security operatives today after violence erupted at his polling unit in Ejigbo, Osun State. The trouble started at Polling Unit 003, Iroyin Ayo Open Space, Ward 004, shortly after he and his wife cast their votes.

Panic gripped voters, INEC officials, election observers and journalists, with many fleeing the scene. Voting was suspended as electoral officials vacated the unit over security concerns. DSS and NSCDC operatives later arrived to restore order but eventually left while the atmosphere remained tense.

One voter, Adewale, told reporters, "I came here early because I wanted to vote and return home. But after the crisis started, everybody ran away. Now the INEC officials and security men have left. We don't know what will happen next." Another voter, who spoke anonymously, said the disruption denied many residents the chance to participate. As of the time of reporting, voting remained suspended, with some residents waiting for official word on whether the exercise would resume. How many more elections will we lose to violence before we get it right?