The Osun State Police Command has arrested a police officer following the accidental discharge of tear gas at a Registration Area Centre in Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area, during Saturday’s governorship election.
The incident occurred at the RAC in Modakeke Ward 10, where election materials were being handled ahead of their distribution to polling units.
The discharge caused panic among people at the centre, with reports that some voters and officials were affected by the tear gas.
However, the police said the incident was accidental and resulted from the negligence of the officer involved. The command subsequently arrested the officer for investigation and disciplinary action.
The incident generated tension at the centre as voting continued across Osun State in the governorship election.
Skyline News reports that the 2026 Osun governorship election has largely centred on three major contenders namely incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Adeleke is seeking a second term after defeating the APC’s Gboyega Oyetola in 2022. Oyebamiji, a former Osun Commissioner for Finance and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, is challenging the incumbent on the APC platform.
Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly who represented Ejigbo Constituency, is also seeking to upset the two leading contenders.
