African Democratic Congress governorship candidate Najeem Salaam was whisked away by his security detail after violence erupted at his polling unit in Ejigbo, Osun State, on Saturday, disrupting voting in Saturday's governorship election.
The disturbance occurred at Unit 003, Iroyin Ayo Open Space, Ward 004, shortly after Salaam and his wife cast their votes, sending voters, INEC officials, observers, and journalists fleeing the area. Premium Times reported the unrest was triggered when a young voter seized campaign materials allegedly linked to vote-buying, sparking a confrontation with individuals connected to the materials. The ADC's publicity secretary, however, described the incident as an attempted attack on Salaam himself, saying he was saved by the timely intervention of nearby residents.
Personnel from the DSS and NSCDC later arrived to restore order but left after tensions remained high, and voting was suspended at the unit. Speaking afterward, Salaam said he believed he had been the target of a planned attack. "The plan was to even attack me, my personality," he told reporters, adding that his security team's quick action prevented the situation from escalating further.