NewzOSOGBO — The Accord Party has appealed to the European Union (EU) to monitor the political situation in Osun State and use its diplomatic influence to promote a peaceful and credible governorship election scheduled for Saturday. The party made the appeal in a letter dated August 12, 2026, and addressed to Gautier Migot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS. In the letter signed by the National Chairman of the party, Maxwell Mgbudem, Accord alleged that the political atmosphere in the state had deteriorated ahead of the election, citing reports of violence, arrests, intimidation and harassment of political actors and supporters.
Mgbudem claimed that at least 29 persons had been killed in incidents allegedly connected with the political situation in the state, while several others were injured. He further alleged that more than 60 members and supporters of the Accord Party had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State. The party chairman also raised concerns over what he described as the selective deployment of federal law enforcement and regulatory institutions during the election period.
He, however, stressed that the party was not opposed to legitimate investigations or lawful enforcement actions, but expressed concern about the timing and manner in which such actions were allegedly being carried out. “The timing, manner and perceived selectivity of actions by public institutions during an election period are capable of undermining public confidence if they are not demonstrably impartial, transparent and consistent with due process,” the letter stated. Mgbudem also alleged that Accord members had been subjected to attacks, harassment and intimidation.
He cited a viral video in which Senator Francis Fadahunsi was alleged to have called for Accord members to be killed wherever they were found. The senator had previously denied the allegation. Against this backdrop, the Accord chairman urged the EU to take the allegations into consideration and use its diplomatic influence to encourage Nigerian authorities to guarantee a level playing field for all political parties participating in the election.
“It is against this background that we respectfully appeal to the European Union delegation to consider using its good offices and diplomatic influence to encourage the immediate de-escalation of the political situation in Osun State,” Mgbudem… The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State. The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of moves to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the poll.
The ADC expressed concern that such an action could be intended to disrupt its campaign and election-day activities, particularly Aregbesola’s role in coordinating the party’s efforts. “Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said. Aregbesola, who governed Osun between 2010 and 2018 and later served as Minister of the Interior, is currently the national secretary of the opposition party.
Summary from source