Two suspects remain in custody as authorities review election-related incidents after Saturday’s closely watched governorship poll

The Nigeria Police Force arrested 295 suspects across Osun State during the governorship election on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 293 later released on bail after screening and two retained for further investigation and prosecution.

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Force spokesman, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the figure in an interview, saying the arrests formed part of the security operation deployed to prevent electoral offences and maintain order during the closely watched poll.

“295 suspects were arrested during the election, and 293 have been released on bail after screening. So we have two of them in custody for prosecution,” Iniedu said.

The Osun election arrests came against the backdrop of heightened security concerns in the state ahead of the poll, following months of reported political violence, killings and allegations of intimidation involving rival political camps.

The police had previously said they were investigating 30 cases of suspected politically motivated killings linked to the build-up to the election, with some suspects already arrested and charged to court.

Security agencies had consequently intensified surveillance and enforcement across the state, with political actors and supporters warned to avoid conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said it recorded no arrests during the election, attributing the outcome to a multi-layered deployment designed to deter trouble and respond quickly to emerging threats.

According to NSCDC spokesman Afolabi Babawale, three fully armed patrol teams equipped with Hilux vehicles were stationed in every local government area.

The Corps also deployed three unarmed personnel directly to every polling centre, while two armed personnel were positioned 500 metres away from each polling centre.

The arrangement meant that five NSCDC personnel were assigned to provide security coverage around each polling unit, combining visible deterrence with rapid-response capacity.

The security preparations followed growing concern over political violence before the election.

Civil society groups had earlier warned about rising attacks and intimidation, while the police had intensified operations against suspected cultists and political thugs.

In June, the police arrested 24 suspected cultists and political thugs as part of preparations for the election.

The heightened security presence also followed disagreements between political actors and the police over the neutrality of security personnel.

The Accord Party and Osun State Police Command had traded accusations before the poll, with the party alleging bias and the police maintaining that their operations were directed at enforcing the law.

Despite the tense build-up, Saturday’s election proceeded under extensive security arrangements, while the police said those arrested would be treated according to the circumstances established through screening and investigation.

The two suspects who remain in custody are expected to face prosecution if investigators establish offences against them.

The election was eventually won by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who secured 511,067 votes against 444,815 votes recorded by his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress.

Adeleke’s victory secured him a second term, while the post-election security operation now shifts towards resolving outstanding electoral offences and ensuring that any cases arising from the poll are properly investigated.

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The police have continued to stress that enforcement should serve as a deterrent against violence, vote-related offences and other conduct capable of weakening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.