Tension and emotion took another turn in Osun State on Saturday as a group of women confronted police officers outside a police station, singing and displaying placards as the governorship election got underway.
The exact location of the police station could not immediately be independently established as of the time of filing this report.
In a video circulating online, the women are seen gathered in front of the station, carrying placards and fresh leaves while singing in Yoruba.
Their message was blunt: they came to exercise their right to vote, not to fight a war.
The women repeatedly sang and chanted against violence, appealing for peace as voters across the state headed to polling units to choose the next governor.
The dramatic scene comes against the backdrop of heightened anxiety surrounding the Osun governorship election, which is being held amid weeks of political tension, allegations of intimidation and reports of violence involving supporters of rival political camps.
The election is being contested by 15 political parties, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord seeking another term and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam among his major challengers. More than 2.3 million registered voters are expected to participate in the poll across 3,763 polling units.
Security has also been heavily tightened across the state. The police imposed a restriction on movement from midnight on Friday until 6pm on Saturday as part of measures for the election, while security agencies have been deployed across major locations and polling areas.
The women’s action on Saturday also echoes a peace campaign staged by women in Osun earlier in the week, when hundreds marched through Osogbo carrying leaves and placards with messages including “Election Is Not War” and “Vote, Don’t Fight.” They had demanded that voters be allowed to cast their ballots without intimidation and return home safely.
That earlier protest came amid concerns over political violence in the state, including allegations of attacks and intimidation in the build-up to the election.
With voting now underway, the latest confrontation at the police station appears to underscore the fears among some residents that the atmosphere surrounding the poll could descend into violence.
For the women, however, the message remains simple: let the people vote peacefully.
As voters continue to turn out across Osun, attention is now focused on whether the heavy security presence will help prevent violence and ensure that the people’s votes are protected until the final results are announced.
Watch abridged version of the incident video:
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