Sporadic gunshots disrupted the governorship election collation process at the Ataoja D Ward 4 collation centre in Osogbo, Osun state, on Saturday night, August 15, 2026, sending residents and bystanders fleeing for safety.
Incident at Union Baptist Primary School
The incident occurred at Union Baptist Primary School, the designated collation centre for Ataoja D Ward 4, between 9:15 pm and 9:30 pm, according to a report by The Punch. Security personnel were responsible for the shooting, though the reason for the discharge of weapons was not immediately established.
A journalist near the scene observed security operatives firing repeatedly into the air. Canisters were also released within the school premises during the episode. The gunshots continued for more than 15 minutes, and many people in the vicinity scrambled to find cover as the situation unfolded.
Collation Underway Across Osun State
The shooting came at a tense moment, as officials across Osun state were in the middle of collating results from the day's governorship election. The disturbance at the Osogbo centre raised concerns about the safety of election officials, party agents, and journalists present at various collation points.
No immediate official statement was issued explaining what prompted the security personnel to open fire or release the canisters at the location. The incident has heightened tensions around the electoral process, with stakeholders awaiting further details.
As of the time of this report, authorities had not provided an official explanation for the gunfire. The disruption at the collation centre underscores the volatile atmosphere surrounding the 2026 Osun governorship election, and observers are closely monitoring developments for any impact on the ongoing result collation.
