Voters and election officials were reportedly forced to flee a polling area in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State on Saturday after a suspected political thug identified as “Big Hammer” allegedly disrupted voting during the ongoing governorship election.
The incident reportedly occurred at the polling unit of African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, as voters arrived to cast their ballots.
According to reports, the alleged disruption caused panic among voters, election agents and residents in the area, with some reportedly running away from the polling unit to avoid being caught up in the incident.
A video seen by media reports showed voters and election agents running in different directions during the reported disturbance.
One of the persons captured in the video described the situation and said they were forced to jump over a fence while attempting to escape.
“We had to jump the fence to escape, this is very uncalled for,” the person said.
Incident Raises Fresh Concerns Over Osun Election Security
The reported incident came amid heightened concerns over security and electoral conduct in some parts of Osun State during Saturday’s governorship election.
Earlier reports from election observers had raised concerns over cases of thuggery, voter intimidation, vote trading and other alleged electoral irregularities in different polling units across the state.
The development also comes against the backdrop of reports of alleged political violence and intimidation as supporters of the major parties compete for votes in the election.
The The Bureau Journal has been closely following developments surrounding the Osun election, including reports on Nigeria’s evolving electoral process and preparations for future elections.
ADC Candidate’s Polling Unit Reportedly Affected
The affected polling area was reportedly associated with Najeem Salaam, the ADC governorship candidate, who is among the contestants seeking to unseat the incumbent governor.
The incident could further heighten concerns among voters and political parties over the safety of polling units, particularly in areas where competition between supporters is intense.
Election officials, party agents and security personnel are expected to ensure that voters can exercise their franchise without intimidation or obstruction.
Osun Election Under Close Monitoring
The Osun governorship election is being closely monitored across the state’s 30 local government areas, with voters, political parties, civil society organisations and election observers watching the conduct of the poll.
The reported incident in Ejigbo adds to a series of developments being monitored as voting, counting and collation progress.
The Bureau Journal will continue to provide updates as verified information emerges from polling units and collation centres across Osun State.
For broader context on Nigeria’s electoral landscape, readers can also follow developments involving political parties and their candidates ahead of the 2027 elections and recent political developments involving opposition parties and candidates.
The Bureau Journal reports that the allegations surrounding the Ejigbo incident have not independently established the identity, political affiliation or actions of the person referred to as “Big Hammer”. Authorities and relevant election officials are expected to investigate any reported disruption and take appropriate action where wrongdoing is established.
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