The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Najeem Salaam, was escorted away by his security personnel after violence broke out at his polling unit in Ejigbo, Osun State, on Saturday. The incident occurred at Unit 003, Iroyin Ayo Open Space, Ward 004, shortly after Salaam and his wife voted.
The disturbance triggered panic among voters and forced officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, alongside observers and journalists, to leave the polling area. As tension escalated, Salaam was taken away by his security details to prevent him from being caught up in the violence.
The incident subsequently disrupted voting at the polling unit, with electoral officials leaving the location amid concerns about their safety. Personnel of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, later arrived at the polling unit in an effort to restore calm.
However, the security personnel eventually left as tension persisted around the area. The disruption left several voters unable to cast their ballots. One voter, identified as Adewale, said he had arrived early in the hope of voting before returning home.
“I came here early because I wanted to vote and return home. But after the crisis started, everybody ran away. Now the INEC officials and security men have left. We don’t know what will happen next.”
Another voter, who declined to disclose his name, said the situation had prevented residents who had waited since morning from exercising their franchise.
“We have been here since morning. We want to vote, but nobody is conducting the election anymore. The security people who came to restore order have also left.”
As of the time of filing the report, voting had remained suspended at the polling unit. Some voters reportedly stayed around the area while awaiting information from electoral authorities on whether voting would resume. The incident further disrupted the electoral process at the affected polling unit as voters waited for clarity on the next steps.
