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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.

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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo and Kogi Governor, Ahmed Usman, have arrived in Osogbo for the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally.

Ondo Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and member of the House of Representatives representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, have also arrived for the mega rally scheduled for Thursday.

The high-profile political gathering is part of the APC’s final mobilisation efforts for its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The arrival of the party’s senior leaders and governors is expected to further energise the APC campaign as the party intensifies its grassroots mobilisation across the state.

The mega rally, coming on the final day of the official campaign period, is expected to attract APC leaders, supporters, campaign coordinators and members from across the 30 local government areas of Osun.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed August 13 as the deadline for campaigns ahead of the election, following the adjustment of the poll date from August 8 to 15.

The APC leadership is using the final stretch of the campaign to consolidate support for Mr Oyebamiji, who emerged as the party’s candidate after its governorship primary held in Osogbo.

It was gathered that the visiting governors and other APC leaders had also commenced engagements with party members and supporters, including indigenes of their respective states resident in Osun, as part of efforts to mobilise additional support for the party’s candidate.

The mobilisation is expected to complement the APC’s existing grassroots structures across the state as the party seeks to translate its campaign activities into votes for Mr Oyebamiji on Saturday.

Mr Oyebamiji, a former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has been campaigning on the platform of the APC and repeatedly called on voters to support his bid to return the state to development.

The mega rally is expected to serve as the APC’s major show of strength before the campaign window closes at midnight on Thursday.

With the election only days away, the APC is seeking to consolidate its support base, reach undecided voters and strengthen its mobilisation machinery ahead of the poll.

(NAN)