Traders Report Mixed Fortunes As 2026 Osun Governorship Election Approaches

Two days to the Osun State governorship election, traders at Orisumbare Market in Osogbo, the state capital, have expressed mixed feelings about business activities, with some lamenting poor sales while others said the election period had brought more customers to the market.

A visit to the market on Thursday showed that trading activities were ongoing, although some traders said patronage had dropped as residents became increasingly cautious about movements ahead of Saturday’s poll.

A trader, Bolatito Taofeekat, said sales had been poor in the past few days, attributing the situation to fears surrounding the election.

According to her, the situation was different during previous elections, as residents appeared more willing to visit the market.

She said, “The rate at which people are coming to the market in the past few days is very, very low. People are scared to come out to buy anything because of the fear of the unknown.”

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Also speaking, a septuagenarian and President of the Babaloja and Iyaloja of Orisumbare Market, Alhaji Ibikunle, said the situation in the market remained peaceful, urging traders and residents to maintain calm.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of peace in the market, saying traders had also been advised to ensure that the peaceful atmosphere was sustained.

He said, “I’m happy because of the way the market is operating presently. There’s peace, and everybody is buying and selling peacefully. We’ve also spoken to everybody to maintain peace around the market environment. There’s peace everywhere, and nobody is panicking. That is one thing I’m happy about.”

Another trader, Grace Oluwatosin, however, complained about low patronage, saying the fear surrounding the election had affected business.

She said, “If we say there’s much sales, we’re deceiving ourselves. The sales are very low. People are afraid to come out.”

But for Rauf Mustapha, a jewellery and cosmetics trader who has spent between 20 and 30 years doing business at the market, the election period has brought a different experience.

Mustapha said customers were still coming into the market from different states, while the presence of security personnel had also contributed to a sense of safety.

He said some residents who had received money from politicians during the campaign season were also spending part of it on goods, contributing to improved sales for some traders.

He said, “People are coming from different states for one or two reasons; security (men) are everywhere. So they may need one or two things, and that boosts business. And some people come out with cash they’ve received from politicians to buy one or two things they want in the election season. Sales are a bit different from what we’ve been selling before. Trade has improved on my end.”

The mixed reactions from the market reflect varying experiences among traders and residents as Osun prepares for Saturday’s governorship election, with some expressing concerns over reduced patronage and others reporting relatively steady or improved business activities.

The election is scheduled to hold across the state on Saturday, August 15.