The procession was marred by violence at the hospital morgue, where suspected hoodlums and associates of the deceased assaulted two morgue workers after catching them filming the proceedings. Police reinforcements were called in to stabilize the situation at the facility.

Emir Ajagungbade, an Accord Party chieftain in Osun, was reportedly shot and killed on Sunday during a violent confrontation at the Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife. The clash allegedly involved a rival group led by another National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader, known as Sibi. His murder is widely believed to be connected to a power struggle within the union over his potential appointment as the next Osun State NURTW chairman.

Governor Adeleke issued a statement through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirming the death and ordering the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, to apprehend those responsible.

Providing an update on the investigation on Monday, state police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi announced that authorities had recovered a second body from the Mayfair Motor Park, bringing the death toll from the clash to two. Ojelabi also confirmed that, following the incident, Governor Adeleke ordered the immediate closure of the motor park. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a comprehensive investigation.

“The governor has decided that the park should not operate,” Ojelabi stated. “The park has not been operating. A corpse was also recovered by the police, and it has been deposited at the morgue. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. Those being mentioned in connection with the crime should go to the nearest police station to report themselves rather than going to social media to defend themselves. The Commissioner of Police has promised that all those involved will be apprehended and face the law, irrespective of who they are.”

Representing 21 political parties, the candidate breakdown features the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a full slate of 109 candidates, followed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with 108, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) with 104, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 101. Other participating parties include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with 95, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) with 94, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) with 92, and the Action Peoples Party (APP) with 69.

Additional party allocations include the Labour Party (LP) with 68, Accord with 67, the National Rescue Movement (NRM) with 65, the Young Progressive Party (YPP) with 60, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) with 51, Action Alliance (AA) with 39, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with 33, the National Democratic Party (NDP) with 32, the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) with 27 each, the African Action Congress (AAC) with 25, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with 21, the Boot Party (BP) with seven, and Young Progressives (YP) with four.

The high-stakes roster features numerous heavyweights and political figures, including:

• Incumbent Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.

• Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

• Former governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Orji Kalu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).

• Serving governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe).

• Prominent lawmakers and former officials such as Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Stella Oduah.

According to the electoral schedule, the presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for January 16, 2027, with governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections to follow on February 6, 2027.