MONDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2026
VOL 21 NO 85
•Opposition Candidates, Supporters Allege Increasing Intimidation As Political Rivalries Intensify •Ojudu, Others Condemn Trend, Demand Civility From Political Actors
•A photo collage showing Sowore after the attack on Friday, as well as an SUV belonging to the Sokoto ADC Guber Candidate, riddled with bullets, after he was attacked on the same day
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ROWING reports of a acks on opposi on poli cians, threats against rival party supporters and destrucon of campaign materials across parts of the country have heightened concerns about in mida on and harassment ahead of the 2027
general elec ons. OSUN DEFENDER reports that from Ibadan to Ado-Eki and Sokoto among other parts of the country, recent incidents involving opposi on figures have raised fresh ques ons about the safety of poli cal actors as well as the neu-
trality of security agencies and the commitment of those in power to democra c compe on. The developments, involving allega ons of inmida on by individuals suspected to be connected to ruling poli cal par es, have also renewed con-
cerns about the possibility of violence overshadowing poli cal campaigns as pares intensify prepara ons for the general elec ons. Opposi on Candidates, Supporters Allege Increasing In mida on As Poli cal Rivalries Intensify In Oyo State, Accord
party governorship candidate, Oriyomi Hamzat, raised the alarm over the destruc on of his campaign billboards across major parts of Ibadan, accusing the administra on of Governor Seyi Makinde who is also the presidenal candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), of crea ng an unfavourable environment for opposi on ac vi es. Hamzat’s concerns came shortly a er his supporters were a acked during a procession in the Molete area of Ibadan on October 14, shortly a er returning from the United Kingdom. The supporters, who had gathered to welcome him back to the country, were a acked by suspected hoodlums who pelted members of the procession with stones and vandalised vehicles in the campaign convoy. The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the a ack, with its spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, telling journalists that Hamzat’s supporters were ambushed during a peaceful procession. The incident took a tragic turn a er the police confirmed the death of a 40year-old supporter, Azeez Tajudeen, who sustained a severe injury to his right eye during the violence. In another development, the governorship candidate of the African Democra c Congress in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, narrowly escaped what he described as an a empt on his life after his convoy was a acked near the Sultan Abubakar III
Interna onal Airport. Dan’iya’s incident occurred around 9pm on Friday, October 30, shortly a er the candidate had escorted former Sokoto State Governor and Senator represen ng Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport for his return journey to Abuja. According to a statement by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and the state Community Guard allegedly blocked the candidate’s convoy and prevented it from proceeding. He claimed that the security personnel insisted they were ac ng on direcves from their superiors not to allow members of the ADC into the state. The confronta on escalated into gunfire, damaging vehicles in the convoy, while two Department of State Services (DSS) operaves a ached to the candidate’s security detail were allegedly detained. Dan’iya called for an inves ga on into the incident, insis ng that poli cal affilia on should not determine the rights of ci zens to move freely and par cipate in poli cal ac vi es. The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed receiving a report about the incident and said it had commenced an invesga on to establish what transpired and iden fy anyone found culpable. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the incident happened on the same day the presiden al candidate of the African Ac on Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, was a acked at a restaurant in Ado-Eki . Sowore had completed a radio interview at Midas 90.5 FM when the event occurred at an eatery in the Dalimore area of the state capital. The ac vist alleged that he and members of his team were a acked by •Continued on page 2
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2026
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News
Osun Residents Call Out Adeleke Over Poor State Of Osogbo Roads
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ESIDENTS of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have raised alarm over the worsening condion of internal roads across the metropolis, describing the situa on as deplorable, dangerous and unacceptable for a state capital. The residents, who spoke in separate complaints on Saturday, said many major roads and inner streets have deteriorated into pothole-ridden stretches, with failed asphalt, poor drainage and gully erosion making movement difficult and hazardous for motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and business owners. Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a resident, Adeyemo Ibrahim expressed deep frustra on over the state of infrastructure in the city, no ng that the roads have become death traps that endanger lives and damage vehicles on a daily basis. He lamented that what should be rou ne maintenance has been neglected, leaving residents to navigate craters that could cause avoidable accidents. “I am deeply disappointed by the deplorable state of roads in the city. Potholes are everywhere, some so deep and dangerous that they pose serious risks to motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. These are poten al death traps that can cause fatal accidents and damage vehicles,” Ibrahim said. According to him, the condi on of the roads rais-
•Some of the potholes es serious ques ons about governance priori es in the state, stressing that road maintenance is not a privilege but a fundamental duty of government to the people. “How can a state capital be le with such dangerous roads? Must we wait for avoidable accidents and loss of lives before the authori es take ac on? Road maintenance is not a favour to the people; it is a basic responsibility of government,” he queried. Ibrahim added that Osun residents deserve be er infrastructure and responsive leadership that priori ses the safety and welfare of ci zens over poli cal considera ons. “The people of Osun deserve be er. Governance
Photos: Olushola Aderinto should be about protec ng lives, providing essen al infrastructure and responding to the needs of the people, not merely occupying public office,” he stated. Corrobora ng his posi on, another resident, Olaide Abimbola, gave a graphic account of some of the most affected routes within the state capital. She listed several corridors that have become impassable, especially during and a er rainfall when the potholes are filled with water and difficult to detect. “From Ita-Olokan to Oke-Ayepe and Idi-Omo to Sabo is very bad. From Kolabalogun to Tes ng Ground too. Olaiya to Ogo-Oluwa, Dele-Yes-Sir to Oke-Fia is an eyesore,” Abimbola said. “Ministry of Works
should do something, please. We are begging. These roads are what we use every day to go to work, to take our children to school, to go to the market. The suffering is too much,” she added. The complaints by residents come at a me when an Osun-based civil society organisa on, The Osun Masterminds (TOM), has also called on the Osun State Government to shi a en on from poli cs to governance, urging it to priori se infrastructure, employment, healthcare and grassroots development. The call was contained in its October 2026 State of the State address delivered by its Execu ve Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Saturday in Osogbo.
Oyedokun-Alli said the gubernatorial elec on cycle had ended and residents should begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy rather than con nued poli cal campaigns. TOM decried the poor condi on of several internal roads in Osogbo, lis ng the Dele-Yes-Sir/Oke-Fia axis, Olaiya/Ogo-Oluwa corridor and MDS/Oja-Oba/Ilesa Garage network as areas needing urgent rehabilitaon. According to the coali on, the deteriora ng roads, marked by potholes, failed asphalt, poor drainage and erosion, have worsened the plight of motorists, commuters and business owners, and are emblema c of infrastruc-
tural abandonment in the state capital. The group urged the state government to immediately declare a state of emergency on township roads in Osogbo and commence comprehensive, durable rehabilita on, rather than cosme c stone-filling. “Pallia ve measures must move beyond cosmetic stone-filling to durable, comprehensive engineering solu ons that can withstand the elements and serve our people sustainably,” TOM noted. Commen ng on a Facebook post about that state of road in the capital city, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), Akintunde Sheriff, acknowledged the concerns and assured residents that the administra on is not oblivious to their plight. Sheriff said government is already devo ng a enon to the affected roads and that physical intervenons should be expected soon. “The administra on is aware of the sorry state of some of the important roads within the metropolis, including this essen al road. Necessary a en on is being devoted, which is an cipated to bear meaningful physical interven on before too long. “The people are implored to note that their Government is not unaware of their struggles. We can’t be blind to the public plight,” he said.
2027: Fresh Concerns Over Attacks On Opposition... APC Must Stop Weaponising History To Distract Nigerians From Economic Hardship – FoRA
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group, Friends of Rauf Aregbesola (FoRA) has accused the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government of weaponising history to distract Nigerians from the country’s worsening economic hardship. The group said the administra on should focus on addressing hunger, unemployment, rising poverty and the high cost of living rather than engaging in what it described as poli cal vende as against former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. FoRA stated this in a press statement signed by Ileowo Kikiowo, on behalf of its Media Office, in response to renewed cri cism of the modulated salary structure introduced by the Aregbesola administraon in Osun. The group described the cri cism as an a empt to distort the history of the former governor’s admin-
istra on, insis ng that the salary arrangement was a deliberate measure to preserve public sector jobs during a period of severe economic difficul es. It also ques oned the involvement of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Alake, in the cri cism, recalling that he was part of Aregbesola’s entourage when the former governor presented Osun’s school feeding programme, O’MEALS, to Bri sh parliamentarians at the House of Commons on January 22, 2014. According to FoRA, the presenta on was organised at the invita on of the AllParty Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development and the Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College London. “Beyond preserving jobs, the Ogbeni adminis•Read full story on www.osundefender.com
•Continued from front page armed thugs sponsored by the state government, further accusing opera ves of the Department of State Services of providing the a ackers with informa on about his loca on. However, the Eki State Police Command offered a different account, describing the incident as an alterca on between Sowore and some individuals at the restaurant. The police said their opera ves intervened, rescued the AAC candidate and took him to the Police Co age Hospital, where he received treatment. The command subsequently announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connec on with the incident. The Eki State Government also denied involvement, describing the allega on linking it to the incident as unfounded and calling on the police to conduct a thorough inves gaon and prosecute anyone found responsible. Ojudu, Others Condemn Trend, Urge Civility From Poli cal Actors
Condemning the incident, former presiden al aide, Senator Babafemi Ojudu in a statement tled ‘Eki Must Be Safe For Dissent’, insisted that poli cal disagreements should never become an excuse for physical assault. He stressed that democracy must accommodate different opinions, including those that are cri cal of people in government. Ojudu argued that ci zens should not be regarded as enemies of the state simply because they cri cise government officials or challenge those in posions of authority. He maintained that the freedom to express poli cal opinions should not depend on whether those in power agree with such views. “Anyone who comes to Eki to campaign, address a mee ng, grant an interview or peacefully promote a poli cal cause must be able to do so without fear. That space is a democra c en tlement. It is not a favour bestowed by the ruling party.
“We are free to challenge their arguments, ques on their records and reject their proposals. We are free to campaign against them and defeat them at the polls. We are not free to beat them into silence. The right to speak also protects the public’s right to listen, weigh competing arguments and make informed choices. When violence drives one voice out of the public square, it diminishes the freedom of every ci zen who might have wished to hear that voice,” Ojudu noted. Corrobora ng him, the spokesperson for the Centre for Social Jus ce and Public Protec on (CSJPP), Akin Akanji, described the developments as disturbing, warning that the increasing hos lity surrounding poli cal ac vi es could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and discourage ci zens from par cipa ng freely in democra c ac vi es. He said, “It is disturbing that at a me when poli cal par es should be
engaging Nigerians on their programmes, policies and capacity to deliver, reports of a acks, in mida on and threats against poli cal opponents are becoming a source of concern. Democracy is not warfare, and poli cal opponents must never be treated as enemies who should be eliminated or silenced. “Poli cal leaders must understand the consequences of their words and ac ons. When inflammatory statements are made without cau on, supporters at the grassroots may interpret them as approval to a ack or in midate perceived opponents. Those who wield poli cal influence must therefore be measured in their u erances and discourage violence in all its forms,” Akanji added. The CSJPP spokesperson also called on security agencies to remain imparal and ensure that all allega ons of poli cal violence are thoroughly inves gated, irrespec ve of the poli cal affilia ons of those involved.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2026
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IGERIANS have become so disillusioned with the country’s electoral process that their minds are almost condi oned to expect the worst. At best, the prevailing mood is one of cau ous pessimism, and perhaps with good reason. The Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC), the ins tu on entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of our democracy, appears increasingly entangled in contradic ons of its own making. The controversy surrounding the voters’ register is only the latest manifesta on of these troubling shortcomings. There is a glaring deficit of transparency, compounded by what appears to be technical unpreparedness. At a me when even technologically advanced democracies are taking proac ve measures to confront the growing threat of ar ficial intelligence (AI) in electoral processes, Nigeria’s electoral umpire seems to be struggling with more fundamental ques ons of preparedness and accountability. The United States’ midterm elecons, scheduled for tomorrow, will provide another opportunity to observe how a more technologically advanced electoral system confronts the challenges of elec on interference and AI-driven disinforma on. The controversy over the display of the voters’ register, including concerns about its accessibility and ming, raises serious ques ons about INEC’s compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. It also opens the door to a poten ally overwhelming wave of legal challenges. An electoral process that should be
“Nigerians are still waiting for a convincing explanation of the suspicious technical glitches that marred the transmission and collation of results during the last presidential election. The failure to satisfactorily address those concerns has left a dangerous credibility deficit, one that every subsequent controversy threatens to deepen”
This is why the independence of the electoral commission must be more than a cons tu onal declara on. It must be a prac cal reality. INEC should func on as an autonomous ins tu on of democracy, insulated from poli cal manoeuvring, par san interests and undue interference. Its credibility must rest on transparency, competence and accountability, not merely on the assurances of its leadership. Perhaps the next Na onal Assembly, if Nigerians elect one that understands the weight of its cons tu onal responsibili es, will have the courage and capacity to address these structural deficiencies. The present legislature has too o en appeared content to play the role of a rubber stamp when what the country needs is an ins tu on willing to ask difficult ques ons and demand answers. Electoral reform must be among its priories. Meanwhile, the developments in India offer another sobering reminder that electoral credibility is not a challenge peculiar to Nigeria. Reports of a glaring absence of effec ve massive demonstra on schedparliamentary oversight. The uled for today, November 1, Na onal Assembly has a con- over a disputed voters’ register s tu onal responsibility to and demands for the resignascru nise the ac vi es of pub- on of the country’s electoral lic ins tu ons, par cularly one commission chief underscore as cri cal to democra c stabil- the tensions that can arise ity as INEC. Predictable admin- when ci zens suspect that the istra ve shortcomings and in- electoral process is discriminas tu onal lapses are precisely tory or compromised, par cuwhy rigorous oversight, mely larly against minority commuscru ny and the prompt re- ni es. The protesters’ concerns lease of budgetary alloca ons may differ from Nigeria’s, but are indispensable. A commis- the underlying lesson is the sion that knows it will be held same: public confidence in an accountable is more likely to electoral ins tu on cannot be remain alert, prepared and re- demanded; it must be earned. sponsive. The present state of Democracy cannot thrive affairs, par cularly at this late on suspicion, opacity and instage in the electoral preparas tu onal complacency. INEC ons, is unacceptable. must recognise that every unexplained OSUN DEFENDER glitch, every avoidPublisher – Moremi Publishing able administra ve House Ltd. failure and every unAc ng Deputy Editor – Sodiq Yusuf answered ques on Deputy Photo Editor – Shola Aderinto further widens the Deputy Graphics Manager – Zainab Olalere fault line between Produc on Controller – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa the electoral ins tuOSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing on and the ci zens House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, it is meant to serve. Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. Nigeria cannot afISSN : 0794-8050 ford another elec on Telephone : 0809-301-9152 Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php conducted under a cloud of uncertainty. e-mail : osundefenderhq@gmail.com The me to restore osundefenderbank@gmail.com All correspondence to the above email addresses. confidence is now.
Another Fault Line
building public confidence is instead genera ng uncertainty and suspicion. If the commission is already grappling with ques ons surrounding the integrity and management of voter data, how prepared is it to confront the more sophis cated threats posed by AI on elec on day? How will it detect and contain deepfakes, manipulated electoral informa on, automated disinforma on campaigns and other forms of digital interference capable of misleading voters and undermining confidence in elec on results? These are not hypothe cal concerns. They are emerging reali es that demand urgent ins tu onal preparedness. The country deserves answers, and it deserves them without further delay. Sadly, Nigerians are s ll wai ng for a convincing explana on of the suspicious technical glitches that marred the transmission and colla on of results during the last presiden al elec on. The failure to sa sfactorily address those concerns has le a dangerous credibility deficit, one that every subsequent controversy threatens to deepen. Equally troubling is the
News
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2026 VOL. 21 NO 85 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
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027 Elec ons will produce the first AI generated elecons result in Nigeria. From AI generated voters register, AI generated elec on results will emerge. AI generated voters register has laid founda on for AI generated elec ons result. 2026 Electoral Act is clear, there is no provision for AI generated register and AI generated results. The appearance of suspected ar ficial intelligence-generated photographs in Nigeria’s preliminary voter register has raised serious ques ons about data integrity and administra ve oversight ahead of the 2027 general elec ons. This controversy is par cularly striking because INEC itself has repeatedly warned Nigerians about the dangers ar ficial intelligence poses to elec ons. The commission has iden fied deep fakes, synthe c images, and cloned voices and fabricated electoral informa on as emerging threats capable of undermining public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elecon. INEC’s Director of ICT has confirmed that their registra on officers were responsible for the irregulari es and AI photos on the register. The Chairman of the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, must inves gate and sack any staff found to be involved in using ar ficial intelligence (AI) to duplicate Na onal Iden fica on Numbers (NINs) in the voters’ register. Falsifying voter data is a crime under the Electoral Act. The allega on that more than 20 million AI-generated voters exist on the INEC register is an extraordinarily serious issue. It must not be accepted as established fact without verifiable evidence. But neither should such a claim
PERSPECTIVE
BY INWALOMHE DONALD
2027 Elections: AI-Generated Results Will Emerge From AI Generated Voters Register
be dismissed without a transparent inves ga on. INEC owes Nigerians a clear explana on of the integrity of the voters’ register that safeguards against fraudulent registra ons, and the procedures for iden fying and removing ineligible or duplicate entries. Voters register that lacks integrity cannot produce a credible result. I want to warn that the use of AI-generated images and duplicated NINs in the register posed a serious threat to the credibility of INEC and the integrity of the 2027 general elec ons. AI generated voter register could be used to declare AI generated 2027 elec ons results. AI generated voters register will lead to declara on of AI generated results. I want to warn INEC that no candidate is going to court which is a serious threat to post 2027 elec ons because the popular phrase, “go to court,” often used a er disputed elec ons is now crea ng an impression that poli cal actors are confident electoral challenges will not succeed. I want to call for an independent and transparent forensic audit of the na onal voters’ register and urge INEC to work with the Na onal Iden ty Management Commission (NIMC) to address the alleged duplica on. A synthe c AI-generated images and duplicate NINs in the Na onal Register of Voters would represent a grave threat to the integrity of the 2027 elec ons and a breach of the 2026 Electoral Act. If opposi on poli cal par es are not careful, 2027 elec ons are being rigged even before the dates of the elec ons. There are glitches when accessing the voters register online. Some months ago, an aide to Minister of FCT published informa on from INEC back-head server of a registered voter. Concerned Nigerians are issuing strong warning to INEC Chairman Over Allega ons of AI-Driven Elecon Rigging for President Tinubu.
The people of Edo State are worried that the number of registered voters at Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Polling Unit miraculously soars from 397 in 2024 to 4,783 In 2026 so that he can give President Tinubu 2.5 million votes. There are several polling units that are affected in Edo State. INEC must rise above poli cal pressure, address these allegaons openly in units and wards, and demonstrate that every legi mate vote will count and every unlawful a empt to manipulate the process will be confronted. Nigerians, opposi on par es, civil society organisa ons, and the media must also remain vigilant, demand accountability, and insist on a transparent electoral process. Stakeholders are increasingly concerned that AI generated voters register, rising poli cal violence, in mida on and inflammatory rhetoric could threaten the Nigeria’s democra c process ahead of the 2027 general elecons. Recent a acks in Edo State and other parts of Nigeria on the deliberate use of physical force, threats or in mida on by state or non-state actors to achieve poli cal objec ves, capture power or challenge poli cal systems threaten 2027 elec ons. There are many fraudulent secons in 2026 Electoral Act. Candidates for 2027 elec ons are raising the alarm that they are not going to courts to challenge 2027 elec ons result because they no longer have confidence in the judiciary. This is a call to anarchy in post 2027 elec ons in Nigeria. It has raised concerns over the growing reliance on courts to determine the outcome of elec ons in Nigeria. Nigeria is among countries with a high number of elec on pe ons and there are increasing involvements of the judiciary in deciding electoral disputes which amounts to a growing “judicializa on of the electoral pro-
P2 cess.” Courts are increasingly being called upon to determine who won elec ons, rather than merely resolving disputes arising from the electoral process. “I see that Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of elec on pe ons, and all because the courts are very frequently involved in determining either the outcome or who won. The development could undermine ci zens’ confidence in the electoral process, par cularly where voters believe their ballots may ul mately be displaced by court decisions. Technologies introduced to improve transparency should not become addi onal obstacles for li gants seeking to establish alleged electoral violaons. Electoral reforms should ensure that voters, rather than prolonged li ga on, remain at the centre of determining who governs them. As Nigeria inches towards the 2027 general elec ons, an ominous pa ern is beginning to emerge. The language of poli cs is becoming more threatening, more intolerant, and, in some cases, dangerously inflammatory. Poli cs is not supposed to be a do-or-die affair, and an elec on shouldn’t be a declara on of war. Unfortunately, too many Nigerian poli cians are desperate and appear prepared to go to any length to win elec ons. We have seen vote buying, threats, in mida on, ballot snatching, manipula on of results and endless legal ba les. The despera on to capture power is o en so intense that the electorate – the people in whose name democracy is prac sed – becomes an a erthought. What is par cularly troubling ahead of 2027 is the emerging pa ern of inflammatory poli cal rhetoric. Our democracy cannot afford an electoral process that leaves ci zens doub ng whether their votes will count. The 2027 elecon must not become a contest in which the outcome is determined by ques onable registers, compromised ins tu ons, voter suppression, or electoral manipula on instead of the freely expressed will of the Nigerian people. The ruling party may be confident of victory, but no poli cal party owns Nigeria, and no party has a divine or cons tu onal entlement to remain in power. In a democracy, the people are the ulmate sovereigns. Their mandate must be earned through credible policies, responsible leadership, and the ballot box, not presumed through poli cal arrogance. •Inwalomhe Donald writes via inwalomhe. donald@yahoo.com
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Acting Deputy Editor, SODIQ YUSUF, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com