Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
ILESA — The Ijesa South Campaign Council of the Accord Party has moved to allay fears over Saturday’s governorship election, assuring residents of adequate security across the state and urging them to turn out in large numbers to vote for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election.
The council, which covers Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West Local Government Areas, addressed journalists in Ilesa on Thursday, dismissing concerns about potential violence and intimidation.
Council Chairman Babatunde Dosu highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process, revealing that ten security personnel would be deployed to each polling unit across the constituency.
“The Federal Government has approved the deployment of ten security personnel per polling unit. This is a substantial measure designed to provide maximum protection for voters, electoral officials, and election materials across the four Local Government Areas of our constituency,” Dosu stated.
He emphasised that security forces had been given “a clear mandate to deal decisively with any individual or group attempting to cause mayhem or disrupt the electoral process,” urging the public to disregard threats from any individual “no matter how highly placed.”
Dosu also acknowledged the Osun State Government’s proactive engagements with stakeholders, traditional rulers and community leaders to foster harmony and confidence among the citizenry.
“We appreciate their collaboration with federal agencies to guarantee a seamless electoral process,” he added.
The campaign council chairman reminded registered voters that polling booths would open at 8:00 AM and close promptly at 2:00 PM, encouraging citizens to “come out early, cast their votes, and return home peacefully.”
He described Governor Adeleke as “a leader whose monumental works, unprecedented developmental strides, and massive infrastructural projects across Osun State speak for themselves,” urging voters to elect him for a second term.
Fielding questions from journalists, State Commissioner for Health and zonal leader Jola Akintola called for the release of detained Accord Party chieftains in Ijesa South and across the state, though he did not provide further details on the circumstances of their detention.
Akintola dismissed fears that alleged killing threats made by some All Progressives Congress politicians would cause voter apathy, expressing confidence that the robust security deployment would encourage voters to participate.
“We have appealed to our people not to be involved in any killing. No sane person will support killing. We are one big family in Ijesha land,” Akintola said.
The election, scheduled for Saturday, will see Governor Adeleke seeking a second term against a field of challengers including the APC’s Bola Oyebamiji, who received a high-profile endorsement from President Bola Tinubu at a rival rally on Thursday.
