By The Pivot Online News Desk
OSOGBO — Voting is underway across Osun State as residents troop out to elect the governor who will lead the State of the Living Spring for the next four years.
The governorship election, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is taking place across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas, with about 2.3 million registered voters and 15 candidates on the ballot. Accreditation and voting commenced from 8:30 a.m. in many polling units.
The contest has largely centred on incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam, although other candidates are also seeking the governorship.
Adeleke casts vote in Ede
Governor Adeleke, who is seeking a second term, cast his vote at Unit 009, Ward 02, Abogunde Compound, Ede North Local Government Area, early Saturday morning.
The governor arrived at the polling unit for accreditation before voting, as residents of Ede and other parts of the state turned out early for the exercise.
Reports from Ede, Osogbo, Ilesa and other locations indicated significant voter activity in the early hours, with voters arriving at some polling units before the official commencement of voting.
Oyebamiji’s hometown records large turnout
In Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, the hometown of APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, a large crowd of voters was also reported at polling units as residents waited to participate in the election.
Former Osun Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, also cast his vote at Polling Unit 10, Ward 1, Lado, Iragbiji.
BIVAS complaints emerge
While the election has generally commenced peacefully, there have been reports of technical difficulties involving the BIVAS accreditation machines in some locations.
INEC’s Osun spokesman, Musa Olurode, acknowledged complaints over the slowness of some BIVAS devices and said the commission had responded to the problem, adding that the situation had been brought under control.
Security presence heightened
Security has been visibly reinforced across the state following concerns over election-related violence during the campaign period.
The police had deployed Mobile Force units to all 30 local government areas, alongside other security arrangements, while surveillance and protection were intensified around polling locations and INEC facilities.
The police also confirmed the arrest of more than 300 persons found at the residence of an Osun politician.
According to the police, those arrested were being profiled to establish their purpose in the state.
The command said the election had remained peaceful and calm in areas covered by its field reports.
Election seen as test ahead of 2027
Beyond the battle for the Osun Government House, the election is attracting national attention as one of the major electoral tests before Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC has described the Osun poll as significant to the country’s broader electoral process, while stakeholders have repeatedly called for a peaceful and credible exercise.
The election is also taking place against the background of Osun’s history of closely fought contests and post-election legal battles.
The 2022 election, for instance, saw Adeleke defeat the then-incumbent Oyetola, while the 2018 contest was decided by a narrow margin after an initial inconclusive declaration.
As voting continues, attention is now shifting to turnout, the performance of the electoral technology, the conduct of security personnel and, ultimately, the results from the various polling units and collation centres.
The Pivot Online will continue to monitor the election and bring readers verified updates as the results emerge.
Source: The Pivot Online News Desk, based on current reports from INEC and multiple Nigerian news organisations.