According to reporting by Daily Post, violence erupted during the collation of results in the Osun State governorship election late Saturday night when masked gunmen stormed a key collation center at Union Baptist Primary School in Osogbo. The armed gang shot sporadically into the air between 9:15 pm and 9:30 pm, causing panic among electoral officers, party agents, and local residents who fled for safety.
The incident occurred as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was actively receiving and tallying results across various local government areas. Governor Ademola Adeleke swiftly issued an urgent public appeal to President Bola Tinubu, requesting immediate intervention to ensure security forces protect voters and safeguard the sanctity of the electoral process amid reports of widespread disruption attempts.
Electoral stakeholders and security personnel have since managed to stabilize the immediate perimeter, though tension remains palpably high across the state capital as official collation continues under heavy security guard.
Validation:
Naija News reported on the violent escalation at the collation center, noting that “gunshot rocks Osogbo as hooded gunmen invade collation centre,” causing chaos among collation staff. Furthermore, The Nation highlighted Governor Adeleke’s message to the presidency, quoting him as pleading: “make their votes count,” while urging heads of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to prevent further political interference.
Echotitbits take:
The outbreak of violence at crucial collation centers highlights recurring security vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s off-cycle elections. Watch for heightened security deployments around INEC facilities and potential legal challenges arising from disputed local government tallies.
Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/08/gunmen-invade-ward-4-collation-centre-in-osogbo-disrupt-exercise/, August 16, 2026
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