The Osun election violence concerns have prompted the Accord Party to appeal to the European Union (EU) for diplomatic intervention ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll. The party asked the EU to closely monitor developments in Osun State and use its diplomatic influence to encourage Nigerian authorities to ensure that the election is peaceful, credible and conducted on a level playing field.
The appeal was contained in a letter dated August 12, 2026, addressed to Gautier Migot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS. The letter, signed by Accord National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, alleged that political tensions had escalated across the state ahead of the election, with reports of violence, arrests, intimidation and harassment involving political actors and their supporters.
Mgbudem claimed that at least 29 people had been killed in incidents allegedly linked to the political situation in Osun. He also alleged that several others had sustained injuries, while more than 60 Accord members and supporters were reportedly arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State. The party chairman further questioned what he described as the selective deployment of federal law enforcement and regulatory institutions during the election period.
However, he clarified that Accord was not opposed to legitimate investigations or lawful enforcement. His concern, he said, was about the timing and manner in which such actions were allegedly being carried out. According to him, the conduct of public institutions during an election could affect public confidence if their actions were perceived as selective or lacking transparency.
“The timing, manner and perceived selectivity of actions by public institutions during an election period are capable of undermining public confidence if they are not demonstrably impartial, transparent and consistent with due process,” the letter stated.
The Accord chairman also alleged that members of the party had faced attacks, intimidation and harassment during the build-up to the election. He referred to a viral video in which Senator Francis Fadahunsi was allegedly heard calling for Accord members to be killed wherever they were found.
Fadahunsi had previously denied the allegation. Accord said the reported incident was among the developments contributing to concerns over the safety of political actors and supporters as voters prepare to elect the next governor of Osun State.
Against this backdrop, Mgbudem urged the EU delegation to use its diplomatic channels to encourage the Nigerian authorities to de-escalate tensions and guarantee equal treatment for all participating political parties.
“It is against this background that we respectfully appeal to the European Union delegation to consider using its good offices and diplomatic influence to encourage the immediate de-escalation of the political situation in Osun State,” he said. The party also called on the EU to publicly reaffirm its support for a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election. It stressed that the eventual winner should emerge solely from the votes freely cast by Osun voters.
“Specifically, we respectfully request that the European Union publicly reaffirm the importance of a free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful election in Osun State, with the outcome determined solely by the freely expressed will of the electorate,” the party stated.
Accord argued that international engagement before the election could help prevent further deterioration of the political atmosphere. Mgbudem described the proposed intervention as a form of preventive diplomacy, saying early engagement could encourage political actors and state institutions to maintain restraint.
He said timely diplomatic attention would also reinforce the principle that political competition should remain peaceful, democratic and subject to the rule of law. The allegations contained in the Accord letter come as political parties intensify their final mobilisation ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, amid heightened attention to security and the conduct of the poll.
