Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the violence that reportedly accompanied the recent Osun State governorship election, alleging that nearly 50 people were killed before and during the poll.
At the same time, political leaders have remained silent on the deaths.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Sowore criticised what he described as the prioritisation of political alliances over accountability for lives lost during the election.
“These evil people had to sacrifice close to 50 lives in violence before and during the Osun election… all just to prove that ‘agreement is agreement,'” Sowore wrote.
He also criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke for publicly backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election shortly after Tinubu was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“And when I said Ademola Adeleke has nothing upstairs, it took him less than 24 hours after INEC declared him the winner to prove that. He had to announce that he was supporting Tinubu’s re-election because Tinubu is a Yoruba man,” he stated.
Sowore argued that the reported victims of the election violence were largely Yoruba people and questioned why neither political camp had publicly addressed their deaths.
“Neither side has said anything about those killed. 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 political leaders of prioritising “family political interests, securing power and preserving access to the spoils of government,” while ordinary Nigerians bear the consequences of political violence.
The activist ended his post by describing the political class as “wicked people” and reiterated his #RevolutionNow campaign.
Sowore’s comments generated widespread reactions on X, with many users echoing concerns about political violence and the apparent lack of accountability.
An X user, @ERnurse8282, questioned why musician Davido, whose uncle, Governor Adeleke, won the election, celebrated the victory without commenting on the reported deaths.
Another user, @Aminu2010A, wrote, “The politicians don’t care about those that take the risk on their behalf to fulfil their ambition. They just move on.”
Similarly, @sundayjimmateo lamented that “the losers in all of these are the Osun people,” asking who would seek justice for those allegedly killed by political thugs.
@Moses45044772 argued that Nigerians rarely learn lessons from election violence, saying many are influenced by money and material inducements.
For @eric_blakk, the blame lies with voters who place politicians above their own welfare. “These politicians don’t actually care about people; they only care about their seat,” the user wrote.
Another commenter, @emekasamm, said no compensation could equal the loss of a human life, while @AEdaghware questioned whether the families of those allegedly killed would participate in future elections.
Some users endorsed Sowore’s position. @GuruHvac described his comments as “facts,” adding that politicians were willing to “spill any amount of poor people’s blood to gain power.”
Others used the opportunity to advocate alternative political choices. @Ghostpop89 urged Nigerians to stop voting for the dominant political parties and instead support the African Action Congress (AAC).
Not all reactions supported Sowore’s views. @agbadoABAT argued that those who died did so out of ignorance, insisting that “politics is not a war. It’s a mutual agreement.”
Another user, @olusegunoflagos, questioned Sowore’s political strategy, saying he appeared to conflict with many governors while aspiring to become president.
Commenting on ethnic politics, @SENATOR_JESUS criticised what he described as “moral gymnastics,” asking: “At what point does ethnicity stop being identity and start becoming a free pass for wickedness?”
In a tribute, @OKollyp called for remembrance of those who reportedly lost their lives, saying no political ambition or electoral victory was worth a human life.
Another user, @Street0racle, argued that the priority should be identifying those responsible for the reported deaths rather than discussing political endorsements. “Power is temporary. Accountability should not be,” the user wrote.
However, @akinyemitayor disagreed with Sowore’s approach, urging him to focus on presenting his manifesto instead of criticising political actors. “Everyone has the right to support whoever they want. Let Osun people breathe; they have chosen their path,” the user stated.
The Osun State governorship election was held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke securing a second term after defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The election was marred by allegations of violence in parts of the state. While political parties traded accusations over responsibility for the clashes, security agencies have yet to release a comprehensive official casualty figure or conclude investigations into the incidents.
Sowore’s remarks add to growing calls from civil society groups and members of the public for an independent investigation into the violence, accountability for those responsible, and justice for victims and their families.
