APC loyalists beat up TheCable journalist at Oyebamiji's polling unit during Osun election
A journalist from TheCable was physically assaulted by political loyalists while covering a governorship election in Osun state, Nigeria. Despite the presence of police, the journalist faced intimidation and violence for documenting the voting process after hours.
Why it matters
The incident highlights significant concerns regarding press freedom and the safety of journalists during volatile election periods.
Some loyalists of the All Progressives Congress (APC) violently assaulted Ayodele Oluwafemi, a journalist with TheCable, while he was covering the Osun state governorship election on Saturday.
The incident took place at the polling unit of Bola Oyebamiji, the APC candidate in the election. The polling unit is located at Gantry Sawmill, Ikire I, Irewole LGA of Osun.
Voting at the polling unit, which has more than 2,000 registered voters, continued well beyond the official closing time of 2:30pm.
With daylight fading around 6pm, residents brought out a generator and electric bulbs to provide lighting and enable the continuation of voting.
After the generator was turned on, Oluwafemi continued his assignment of documenting proceedings. Suddenly, he was accosted by two men who questioned why he was still at the polling unit around 7pm.
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