Osun Election: Adeleke’s Adviser Bankole Omisore Released After Overnight Detention

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Bankole “Banks” Omisore, Special Adviser to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Sustainable Development Goals, has been released after reportedly being detained overnight ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The development has added to the political tension surrounding the closely contested poll, with the circumstances surrounding Omisore’s detention becoming a subject of controversy between the ruling Accord Party camp and its political opponents.

Omisore confirmed his release in a post on X on Saturday morning, alleging that he had been detained by security personnel in what he described as an attempt to disrupt the election.

He alleged that Senator Francis Fadahunsi’s police orderly, identified as ASP Wemimo, led a military unit to Ile-Ife and was involved in his detention.

Omisore further alleged that the operation was politically motivated and claimed that he was released after military authorities recognised what he described as an attempt to undermine the will of voters.

He subsequently appeared at his polling unit, where he said he remained committed to supporting Governor Adeleke’s re-election bid.

However, the allegations surrounding the circumstances of the detention have not been independently established.

The Imole Campaign Council, which is backing Adeleke’s re-election, separately alleged that security personnel arrived in more than 15 trucks on Friday night and raided the residences of some Accord Party leaders in different parts of Osun State, particularly within Osun East Senatorial District.

According to the campaign council, Omisore was among those allegedly arrested and taken to a military facility in Ede. The council also alleged that another Accord Party campaigner, Adeyemi Idowu, was detained during the operation.

The claims were reported by multiple media outlets on Saturday morning, although the specific circumstances and motives behind the alleged operation remained unverified at the time.

The campaign council also alleged that ASP Wemimo was involved in the operation and linked the officer to Senator Fadahunsi. It further alleged that an APC federal lawmaker, Sanya Omirin, was present during the operation.

Those claims have not been independently confirmed by the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force or the APC.

The development has generated debate across the state, coming just as voters began casting their ballots in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

The election pits Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, alongside candidates from other political parties.

The reported detention has also intensified concerns about the role of security agencies during the election. The Imole Campaign Council had previously called on security personnel deployed for the poll to remain neutral and professional and to protect voters regardless of political affiliation.

For now, Omisore’s release is confirmed by his own public statement, and he has returned to his polling unit to participate in the electoral process.

However, claims that his detention was illegal, that it was orchestrated by the APC or that it was specifically intended to subvert the election remain allegations from Omisore and the Adeleke campaign camp, rather than independently established facts.

No statement from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force or the APC confirming or rebutting the detailed allegations was available at the time of publication.

As voting continues across Osun State, attention remains focused on the conduct of security personnel, voter turnout and the ability of electoral and security authorities to ensure a peaceful and credible election.