#NigeriaDecides2023: Disruptions Affect Elections in Osun State

The 2023 General Elections came with loads of dynamics that have not been seen before in the electioneering process in Nigeria. Many national and international platforms, as well as individuals, predicted who would emerge as president, and the election was up for so much debate.

My experience monitoring the presidential elections in Osun East Senatorial district was quite adventurous. The electorates in Osun state were peaceful and followed due process in casting their vote. There seemed to be some form of harmony regarding who to vote for the position of president. 

Navigating through the polling units was relatively easy as the INEC ad-hoc staff and security officials met me with open arms. The elections went on smoothly and peacefully. 

I had to take a one-hour journey to Ilesa, where the collation would occur. However, the bus could not pass through due to a clash between APC and PDP members, and all passengers had to disembark. 

Although about three people had allegedly been killed in the clash, I was undeterred from going into the town. I contacted some friends residing in Ilesa and was assured that the riot had subsided. 

Due to the fact that bigger vehicles were not allowed to enter the town, I boarded a motorcycle for the rest of the journey, and it was euphoric.

The collation started at midnight when the senatorial collation officer announced his presence and called for security agents and observers available to come around and monitor the collation process. 

However, the collation officer told me that I was not allowed to get the results until the final results were announced, which did not happen until 3 pm the next day.

He announced the results, and I was surprised that he did not state the breakdown as is the norm. I left the collation centre after reporting the situation to the CJID team.

House of Assembly Elections

Osun state has off-cycle gubernatorial elections, so I observed only the State House of Assembly elections two weeks after the presidential elections. 

However, this election was less peaceful than the presidential election. At a polling unit in Ajebamidele, an APC thug threatened to beat up anyone who voted for PDP. In my attempt to record the actions, the guy caught wind of it and snatched my phone, threatening to smash it if I did not unlock it so he could see the video I had recorded. 

I had to comply because the security officer present pleaded with me to unlock it because he did not want trouble for me as the guy seemed to be a renowned and dangerous thug. The video was deleted, and I took my leave.

I left the polling unit to visit other polling units only to be met with already destroyed ballot papers littered on the floor, and the people around said that thugs disrupted the process and smashed ballot boxes. 

This happened in 3 different polling units that I visited. On getting to the collation centre at Oluorogbo High School in Ife, INEC ad-hoc staff narrated how they were beaten and chased by thugs. 

Collation did not start till about 10 pm. A clash ensued between an APC party agent and the collation officer, who had to be whisked away to the INEC headquarters in Oshogbo, where the results were later announced. 

DISCLAIMER: This story has been published on Campus Reporter with minimal editing to preserve the original voice of the author.