The Accord Party has appealed to the European Union to urgently deploy preventive diplomacy to ease mounting political tension in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, warning that international action after violence or electoral damage would come too late.

With the August 15 poll only days away, the party stated that growing reports of violence, intimidation, arrests, and the alleged partisan use of state institutions were creating an atmosphere where political parties and voters could lose confidence in the electoral process. Accord noted that the outcome would also matter beyond Osun, as the election is the last major off-cycle governorship contest before the 2027 general election.

Accord National Chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, made the appeal in a letter dated August 12 and addressed to the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Migot. Mgbudem stated that the current situation requires preventive intervention rather than action after damage has been done.

The party alleged that at least 29 people had lost their lives in incidents connected with the political environment in Osun, while several others sustained gunshot injuries. It also claimed that more than 60 of its members and supporters were arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State, calling for an independent scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the detentions.

Accord raised concerns over searches of residences belonging to senior Osun government officials and the brief detention of some officials, including the Secretary to the State Government. Although those officials were subsequently released following widespread public concern, the party maintained that the circumstances still required transparent clarification.

The party further cited the reported freezing of Osun State Government bank accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and President Bola Tinubu’s subsequent directive for the accounts to be unfrozen after public criticism, as another development that fuelled concerns about the perceived use of state institutions during the election period.

While acknowledging the constitutional and statutory duties of law-enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, Accord stressed that its objection was not directed at lawful investigations or enforcement. The party stated its concern was to ensure that legitimate state powers are not deployed in a manner that intimidates political opponents or restricts lawful political participation.

Mgbudem also drew the EU’s attention to harassment and intimidation directed at its members, pointing to a viral video which the party claimed showed a sitting senator ordering that Accord members be harmed. The party urged the EU to encourage Nigerian authorities to ensure that no party or citizen is disadvantaged through the selective application of state power.

Specifically, the party asked the EU to publicly reaffirm the need for a free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful election. It also urged political parties and supporters to reject violence, called on security agencies to remain politically neutral, and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to discharge its responsibilities impartially.