Ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, personnel of the Nigerian Navy have arrested Hon. Babatunde Komolafe Festus, the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Atakumosa East/West State Constituency, for alleged possession of a firearm.
Komolafe was reportedly apprehended on Thursday in his hometown, Ifewara, alongside several supporters.
OBSERVERS TIMES stated that the arrest occurred during a routine stop-and-search operation by Navy personnel, who intercepted an APC campaign vehicle belonging to the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. A rifle was allegedly recovered from the vehicle during the search.
A video circulating online shows naval officers parading the apprehended suspects shortly after the incident.
The arrest comes less than 48 hours before the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, amid mounting political tension and warnings of potential electoral violence in the state.
Security concerns in the state were already heightened following recent controversial remarks by an APC chieftain, Mutali Adisa, the Seriki of Ikire.
In a viral video addressing party supporters in Ikire—the hometown of the APC governorship candidate—Adisa warned opposition voters to stay away from polling units on Saturday.
“We should, however, tell those who are not willing to vote for Ambo [Oyebamiji] the truth: they should not even try to cross the gutter on election day in Ikire,” Adisa was heard saying in the video.
The comment has drawn sharp condemnation from civil society groups and opposition parties, who accuse the ruling party of voter intimidation.
In a related development, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju disclosed on Wednesday that a coalition of activists has petitioned the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada to impose visa restrictions on Senator Francis Fadahunsi. The petition alleges Fadahunsi’s involvement in orchestrating violence against members of the Accord Party in the lead-up to the election.
Security agencies have assured the public of their readiness to maintain order, but the arrest of the assembly candidate is expected to trigger tighter security measures across the state’s volatile local government areas.
