By mercy peter
Violence erupted at a polling unit in Osogbo shortly after the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, cast his vote in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
The incident occurred at Polling Unit 13, Ward 4, in Ejigbo Local Government Area, where electoral materials belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were reportedly destroyed amid a violent confrontation.
The development caused panic at the polling location, with voters and other persons at the scene reportedly fleeing for safety.
The incident occurred barely hours after voting commenced across several polling units in the Osogbo metropolitan area.
Earlier, shortly after casting his ballot, Salaam had raised concerns over the alleged failure of INEC officials to recognise and issue identification tags to agents of his party at several polling units across the state.
The ADC candidate described the situation as “worrisome and disturbing,” insisting that the names of the party’s agents had been duly uploaded onto the INEC platform as required.
According to him, ADC agents in Ward 5, Ejigbo, were not issued tags despite the party having submitted their names, adding that similar complaints had emerged from about 10 local government areas across Osun State.
“The report that my agents are not being recognised at most of the wards across the state is worrisome and disturbing,” Salaam said.
He explained that the party had complied with INEC’s directive to upload the names of its polling agents, particularly in Ejigbo, and questioned why the agents were subsequently denied identification tags.
“Despite the fact that we uploaded all the names of our party agents, especially here in Ejigbo, the agents in Ward 5 for the ADC were not given tags. The same thing happened in about 10 local governments across the state,” he said.
Salaam said the matter had been reported to the relevant authorities, who, according to him, were already looking into the complaint.
He stressed that the presence and recognition of party agents at polling units was critical, particularly during the counting and collation of votes.
“When the votes are being counted, it is necessary for my agents to be recognised at the polling units,” he said.
The ADC candidate, however, said the voting process in Ejigbo Local Government Area had initially proceeded without crisis and expressed hope that the election would remain peaceful through the conclusion of voting.
“As it stands, we cannot accept a situation where our party agents are not recognised. The importance of having party agents at the polling units cannot be overlooked,” he said.
He further questioned why agents whose names had been uploaded to the INEC platform were being denied the opportunity to participate in the process as accredited party representatives.
“Maybe towards the end of the election process, I will still address the press and let the people know how far we have gone with the matter,” Salaam said.
On the wider electoral process, Salaam said the recognition of party agents was part of INEC’s preparations for the election and maintained that political parties had complied with the commission’s requirements.
“What I’m saying is part of the preparation on the side of INEC. When you requested that the parties upload the names of their agents, we did so. I don’t understand how or why the party agents would not be given tags,” he said.
Speaking on his chances in the election, Salaam expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious if the election was conducted transparently and without manipulation.
“If there is a fair election, with no rigging or manipulation, and there is a level playing field, I trust my God that I’m going to win the election,” he said.
He said his campaign had focused on engaging voters and presenting the party’s programmes rather than inducements, insisting that vote-buying had no place in the electoral process.
“We engage with the people and let them know about our programmes. That is exactly what we do. Vote-buying is out of it. I have never in my life bought votes,” Salaam said.
He urged voters to exercise their right to freely choose their preferred candidate, stressing that the credibility of the election depended on allowing citizens to make their choices without interference.
“People should decide whom they want, and I think it should be fair enough for them to have the right to choose whom they prefer as a candidate or as the governor of the state,” he said.
The reported destruction of INEC materials at the polling unit has raised fresh concerns over the conduct of the election, particularly as voting continues across Osun State.
