Breaking: Thugs Disrupt Voting at Aregbesola's Polling Unit During Osun Governorship Election

• Suspected thugs stormed the polling unit of former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola and chased away voters during the governorship election
• The incident triggered tension at the polling unit and forced voters to abandon the area
• Security agencies had not responded to the disruption at the time of filing the report

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues

Ilesa, Osun State - Voting was brought to a halt at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor and immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, after suspected thugs chased voters away from the area during the state's governorship election.

The incident created significant tension at the polling unit, forcing voters to flee and leaving the electoral process at that location in disarray.

As reported by The Nation, the incident occurred in the morning on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Osun election: Aregbesola's polling unit thrown into chaos

The disruption raised serious concerns about the integrity of the election in the area, as eligible voters who had turned out to cast their ballots were prevented from doing so.

It was unclear at the time of filing this report what triggered the attack or who was behind it.

Details on whether any arrests were made or whether security personnel responded to the situation were also yet to emerge.

According to The Leadership, some party agents at the polling unit alleged that the suspected thugs were affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the APC agent, Mrs Abogunloko Olufunke, said the individuals were not known to her or the party.

“Those thugs are not our members. I don’t know them.”

The circumstances surrounding the disruption of the voting exercise by thugs were not immediately clear.

Details of any arrests or intervention by security personnel were still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

Security response still awaited

The conduct of security agencies at the scene remained unknown as of the time this report was prepared.

Authorities had not publicly addressed the incident or issued any statement on measures taken to restore order and protect the voting process at the affected polling unit.

Nigerians predict winner of Osun governorship election

Recall that voters across Osun State's 30 Local Government Areas will head to the polls on Saturday, August 15, for the governorship election.

A total of 14 political parties and candidates registered by INEC are participating, though the contest centres on three main contenders.

A Legit.ng poll on X revealed a clear favourite among respondents ahead of the official vote.

Police arrest 100 in Osun amid 2026 election

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that security operatives arrested about 100 people allegedly brought from neighbouring states to interfere with the Osun governorship election.

The Commissioner of Police overseeing the election confirmed the suspects were linked to Ondo and Ekiti states.

Governor Ademola Adeleke announced plans for an independent inquiry into reported killings and violence tied to the election process.