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President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has assured the people of Osun State that adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election scheduled for Saturday.

Akpabio, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally in Osogbo, urged residents to come out in large numbers and exercise their constitutional right without fear or intimidation.

He assured voters that they were free to vote for candidates of their choice, while urging them to make what he described as a wise choice by supporting the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.

“Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice. My advice, however, is that you choose wisely because there is a need to link Osun State to the centre. We are waiting for Osun to join us,” Akpabio said.

He added that nobody would molest voters during the exercise, noting that such incidents could only occur on social media and not at the polling units.

The Senate President said the impressive turnout at the rally demonstrated the growing strength and acceptance of the APC in Osun State, expressing confidence that the party would emerge victorious at the poll.

He noted that the APC campaign had attracted prominent political figures, including former Osun State Governor and former Interim National Chairman of the party, Pa Bisi Akande; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; Senator Fadahunsi and other party leaders.

Akpabio also acknowledged the support of opposition figures for the APC candidate, particularly former Osun State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as well as the leadership of the Accord Party in the state.

According to him, the support reflected a broader desire among stakeholders for a new direction and greater development in Osun State.

The Senate President said Osun deserved improved infrastructure and greater development, charging Oyebamiji to make the transformation of the state a priority from his first day in office if elected.

He said the incoming administration should focus on providing quality infrastructure and delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the people.

Akpabio urged the people of Osun to maintain peace before, during and after the election, stressing that the exercise offered them an opportunity to determine the future direction of the state.

“The message to the people of Osun is clear: come out peacefully on Saturday, exercise your franchise and choose a future of greater development, stronger opportunities and closer alignment with the centre,” he said.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Atakumosa East/West State Constituency of Osun State, Hon. Babatunde Komolafe Festus, has reportedly been arrested by Nigerian Navy personnel over alleged possession of a firearm.

Komolafe was reportedly apprehended on Thursday in Ifewara, his hometown, while travelling in an APC campaign vehicle alongside other party supporters.

Sources said the arrest followed a routine search by Navy personnel, during which a rifle was allegedly found inside the vehicle.

“He was arrested today after a routine search by Navy officials exposed him and other supporters with a gun. They were in the campaign vehicle of APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji when they were caught,” a source said.

A video obtained in connection with the incident showed Navy personnel parading the individuals who were reportedly apprehended.

The development comes about 48 hours before the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, amid heightened political tension and concerns over possible violence and intimidation during the poll.

The reported arrest also comes days after controversial remarks attributed to an APC chieftain in Osun State, Mutali Adisa, the Seriki of Ikire.

Adisa had reportedly warned residents of Ikire who were unwilling to vote for APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, not to attempt to cross a “gutter” in the town on election day.

Speaking to APC supporters in Ikire, Oyebamiji’s hometown, Adisa expressed confidence that the party’s candidate would win the election, saying Oyebamiji had already secured victory and only needed a strong percentage of votes from the community.

“We are sure of victory given all the works we have done in the campaign. Ambo (referring to the APC candidate) is sure of victory, what he needs is percentage in Ikire, he has won already,” he said.

He subsequently issued what appeared to be a warning to residents who might not support the APC candidate.

“We should however tell those who are not willing to vote for Ambo the truth, they should not even try to cross the gutter on election day in Ikire,” Adisa said in a video.

The remarks have generated concerns among political stakeholders and civil society groups, particularly with the governorship election just days away.

The reported arrest of Komolafe and other APC supporters over alleged possession of a firearm has further heightened concerns about security and the activities of political actors ahead of the election.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju reportedly disclosed on Wednesday that he and his colleagues had petitioned the governments of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada to consider visa restrictions against Senator Francis Fadahunsi over alleged involvement in activities linked to violence against members of the Accord Party ahead of the election.

The allegations against Fadahunsi remain subject to due process and should not be treated as established fact.

The latest development is expected to increase scrutiny of political activities, campaign conduct and security arrangements ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.

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The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has questioned calls for the adoption of another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2027 general election.

Kwankwaso, who reacted to comments by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Jingir, sarcastically noted that President Bola Tinubu already operates what he described as a “Muslim-Christian ticket” in his home.
Jingir had urged Nigerian Muslims to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking in Kano, the cleric said he was prepared to support another Muslim-Muslim pairing, as he did during the 2023 presidential election.
“I am one of those who raise the flag of Islam. I am calling on people to come and let us do Muslim-Muslim again,” Jingir said.

“I know this statement pains the unbelievers. I am a Muslim who preaches Islam. If I say Muslim-Muslim, what have I taken away from them?”
Kwankwaso’s Response
Reacting in an interview with DCL Hausa, Kwankwaso described Tinubu as a politician who values balance and fairness, particularly with reference to his political record as governor of Lagos State.

“I know His Excellency Bola Tinubu is a man who values balance and fairness. For all the governors he supported in Lagos, he ensured a Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim ticket. Even when he was the governor of Lagos, all his deputies were Christians,” Kwankwaso said.
He added sarcastically: “Even in his own home, he practises a Muslim-Christian ticket ‘in the other room’ — Tinubu/Remi.”

The remark was a reference to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian and pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Background
The APC’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election, with Tinubu as its presidential candidate and Kashim Shettima as his running mate, generated intense debate across the country.

Critics argued that the arrangement undermined Nigeria’s tradition of religious balancing in political leadership, while supporters maintained that competence should take precedence over religious considerations.
With political realignments already gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, the question of religious balancing is expected to remain a major issue for the APC and opposition parties.