Osun Decides: ADC candidate, Salaam escapes as violence erupts at polling unit

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Najeem Salaam, was whisked away by security operatives after violence broke out at his polling unit in Ejigbo in the ongoing governorship election.

The incident occurred at Polling Unit 003, Iroyin Ayo Open Space, Ward 004, shortly after Salaam and his wife cast their votes.

The unrest triggered panic among voters, INEC officials, election observers, and journalists, forcing many to flee the area.

As tensions escalated, Salaam was escorted away by his security team for his safety. The disturbance disrupted the electoral process, leading to the suspension of voting as electoral officials vacated the polling unit over security concerns.

Operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, later arrived to restore order. However, they eventually left while the atmosphere remained tense.

One voter, Adewale, lamented that he was unable to cast his ballot despite arriving early.

“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,” he said.

Another voter, who requested anonymity, said the disruption denied many residents the opportunity to participate in the election.

“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,” the voter said.

As of the time of reporting, voting remained suspended at the polling unit, while some residents stayed behind awaiting official information on whether the exercise would resume.