Osun 2026: Titilola Adeleke Leads Women’s Protest, Demands End to Arrests and Electoral Violence.
OSOGBO, Osun State First Lady of Osun State, Titilola Adeleke, has reportedly led a group of women in a protest against alleged indiscriminate arrests, intimidation and violence ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
The demonstration comes amid heightened political activity and growing concerns over security and the conduct of political actors as the state prepares for the election.
The women, led by the governor’s wife, are understood to be demanding an environment in which citizens, political stakeholders and voters can participate in the electoral process without fear of unlawful arrest, harassment or violence.
Their concerns come against the backdrop of previous controversies surrounding the use of security agencies during elections in Osun. Ahead of the 2023 State House of Assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused security operatives of indiscriminate arrests of its leaders and members. A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo subsequently restrained the police from arresting or detaining the named PDP leaders and members pending determination of the substantive case.
The history of electoral tensions in Osun has also included allegations of political violence and confrontations involving security personnel. In 2022, for example, five people were arrested following an attack on the convoy of then First Lady Kafayat Oyetola in Ede. Police said a security operative was injured during the incident, while the PDP and APC offered differing accounts of how the confrontation began.
More recently, concerns about security operations in the state have remained a subject of public debate. Civil society organisations have previously raised allegations of police brutality, indiscriminate arrests and excessive use of force in Osun, urging authorities to investigate complaints involving security personnel.
The latest protest therefore places women’s participation and protection at the centre of the state’s electoral conversation. Women constitute a significant part of Nigeria’s electorate, making their ability to campaign, vote and participate freely an important component of credible elections.
The broader political environment in Osun has also become increasingly consequential as Governor Ademola Adeleke seeks another term. Recent election-monitoring reports have highlighted calls by political stakeholders for a peaceful, transparent and violence free governorship election, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued preparations for the poll.
The protest led by Titilola Adeleke adds another public appeal for restraint at a time when political parties, candidates, security agencies and election officials are under pressure to ensure that the electoral process is conducted peacefully.
For the election to command broad public confidence, security agencies will face the task of balancing the enforcement of electoral and criminal laws with respect for citizens’ constitutional rights. Political parties and their supporters, meanwhile, will be expected to discourage confrontation and allow voters to exercise their franchise without intimidation.
As Osun heads towards Saturday’s governorship poll, the emphasis from women participating in the protest is clear: electoral competition should not come at the expense of citizens’ safety, civil liberties or the credibility of the democratic process.