Osun Election: Dino Melaye Alleges Plot to Withdraw Security as Accord Party Claims Lead

Former Senator Dino Melaye has alleged that the ongoing Osun State governorship election is being targeted for manipulation, claiming that security personnel are being withdrawn from polling areas because the Accord Party is allegedly leading in the contest.

Melaye made the allegation on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as voting continued across the state. In a post on his X account accompanied by a video, the former lawmaker accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to influence the election through the withdrawal of soldiers and the use of what he described as compromised police officers.

According to Melaye, the alleged move was connected to the performance of the Accord Party in the election. He claimed that the party was ahead based on information available to him and warned that withdrawing security personnel could expose polling units and collation centres to electoral manipulation.

“APC trying to withdraw soldiers from Osun and trying to use compromised police officers to rig the elections,” Melaye stated in his post, while calling for the alleged withdrawal of security personnel to be stopped.

The allegation, however, remains a claim by Melaye and has not been independently established as evidence that the election is being rigged. No official confirmation cited in the reports reviewed established that soldiers had been withdrawn from polling locations as part of a coordinated plan to manipulate the result.

The controversy comes amid heightened political tension surrounding the Osun governorship election, with competing parties and political actors raising concerns about security, intimidation and the credibility of the voting process.

The Accord Party had previously raised concerns about the security environment ahead of the election. On August 4, the party’s South-West Forum called for international attention to what it described as politically motivated violence and alleged attacks against its members and leaders. Those allegations were part of the broader political dispute surrounding the poll.

There have also been disagreements over the political positioning of Accord ahead of the election. On August 13, Accord National Chairman Professor Christopher Imumolen announced that the party’s National Working Committee had withdrawn support for Governor Ademola Adeleke and endorsed APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji. The development added another layer to the already complex political landscape surrounding the poll.

Melaye, who is now associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has nevertheless maintained his concerns about the conduct of the election. His latest intervention places particular emphasis on the role of security agencies, which are expected to protect voters, electoral officials, party agents and election materials throughout the process.

The allegation comes as electoral authorities and security agencies continue efforts to maintain order during voting and the subsequent collation of results. Any verified withdrawal of security personnel from sensitive election locations could potentially raise concerns about the safety of voters and the integrity of the process.

For now, Melaye’s allegation remains an accusation rather than an established fact. The outcome of the election and any claims of electoral malpractice will ultimately depend on verifiable evidence, official reports from the Independent National Electoral Commission and, where necessary, findings from relevant authorities and election tribunals.