Sowore Questions Osun Election Violence, Adeleke’s Tinubu Endorsement

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has questioned the circumstances surrounding the violence reported before and during the Osun State election, alleging that close to 50 people lost their lives in election-related violence.

In a post shared on his Facebook page, Sowore criticised the political leadership surrounding the election, arguing that the deaths of those allegedly killed during the violence have received little attention from political actors.

Sowore also took aim at Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying the governor moved quickly to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the election.

According to Sowore, Adeleke's stated reason for supporting Tinubu was based on their shared Yoruba identity.

Sowore questioned why political interests appeared to take precedence over accountability for those who lost their lives during the election period.

“Who killed them? Who ordered or enabled the violence? Who is investigating their deaths? Where is the justice for their families?” he asked.

He further accused Nigeria's political class of prioritising family and political interests, access to government resources and the preservation of power while ordinary citizens bear the consequences of political violence.

The post generated reactions from social media users, including one commenter who expressed support for Sowore's political ambitions but argued that Nigerians need stronger evidence of his leadership capacity before trusting him with the presidency.

The commenter urged Sowore to seek a position in the Senate and use it as an opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to fighting corruption and reforming Nigeria's political system.

The commenter wrote that while some Nigerians already see Sowore as a potential future president, he needs to “make Nigerians trust” him first by starting “somewhere big enough,” such as the Senate.

Sowore's post and the ensuing reaction highlight the continuing debate over political accountability, election-related violence and the challenge of building public trust in Nigeria's political leadership.

The identities of those responsible for the alleged deaths and the exact number of casualties referenced by Sowore would require independent verification and official investigation.