Police Accused of Firing Tear Gas at Osun Election Materials Centre as Video Triggers Online Reactions

A fresh controversy has emerged during the Osun State governorship election after a video circulating online appeared to show armed men in police uniforms at a Registration Area Centre in Ife East Local Government Area, where election officials and other personnel had gathered before moving election materials to polling units.

The incident was reported at Ward 10, also known as Modakeke Ward 3, as voting commenced across Osun State on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Reports from multiple Nigerian news outlets said people at the centre alleged that tear gas was fired during preparations for the distribution of election materials.

A video of the incident circulated on social media, including X, showing security personnel at the location. The footage prompted renewed discussion about the role of security agencies during the election and whether voters and election officials were being adequately protected.

What happened at the RAC centre?

According to statements attributed to the Imole Campaign Council spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, people had assembled at the centre alongside Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and were preparing to move to their respective polling units when the alleged tear-gas incident occurred.

The campaign council called for the police and other relevant authorities to investigate what happened and ensure that voters could participate without intimidation.

Bamidele Salam, a member of the House of Representatives, also called on the police to investigate footage he said showed officers at the RAC centre. He alleged that tear gas had been used to disrupt the movement of election materials and that materials were subsequently taken away from the location.

However, those allegations have not been independently established as fact by Talk Ya True.

What people are saying online

The incident quickly became a subject of discussion on X, with reactions ranging from demands for an explanation from the police to concerns about the neutrality of security agencies during the election.

Some users questioned why heavily armed personnel were present at a centre where election materials were being prepared for distribution, while others called for caution until the circumstances surrounding the footage could be established.

One X post reacting to the incident described the situation as evidence of growing tension around the Osun election, while other users focused on the need for security personnel to remain professional and avoid actions that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The online reaction has also been shaped by wider concerns about security during the election. Earlier in the week, Omoyele Sowore alleged that police officers deployed for the Osun election had fired tear gas at him and members of his team while they travelled to Osogbo for an African Action Congress campaign event. The police's broader election deployment has therefore already attracted scrutiny.

Another account emerges from the area

Amid the reports from the RAC centre, an INEC official at a polling unit in the same Modakeke area reportedly said voting at that particular polling unit was proceeding normally.

According to Blueprint, the official said there had been no disruption at Polling Unit 10, Modakeke III, at the time of the report and that voting had started at about 8:30 a.m.

That account is significant because it suggests that reports about the RAC-centre incident should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that voting had been disrupted throughout the Modakeke area.

Police response

As of the reports reviewed for this story, the allegations surrounding the RAC centre were being presented as matters requiring investigation. We have not found a definitive public statement from the Nigeria Police Force confirming that its officers fired tear gas at the centre or explaining the circumstances shown in the circulating footage.

The distinction is important as election-related claims spread rapidly on social media.

The video and the allegations have nevertheless added to concerns surrounding security and the conduct of the Osun governorship election, particularly as voters across the state cast ballots to choose their next governor.

For now, the key questions are whether police personnel were responsible for the actions shown in the footage, why tear gas was allegedly deployed, what happened to the election materials at the centre and whether the incident affected the distribution process.

Authorities will need to provide clear answers if confidence in the electoral process is to be maintained.

Sources

• Reports from Nigerian news outlets on the alleged incident at Ife East Ward 10/Modakeke Ward 3.

• Statements attributed to the Imole Campaign Council and Bamidele Salam.

• Public reactions and posts circulating on X regarding the incident.