Claim
A video circulating on social media (Facebook) and others claims that police officers fired tear gas at people gathered at a Registration Area Centre (RAC) in Modakeke, Osun State, and subsequently carted away election materials during the state’s governorship election on August 15, 2026.
The content recorded with an Infenix Hot 30i had garnered 152 likes 4 comments and 150 shares. IThe video was also found here, here and here.
Why We Checked
In an election Security agencies are meant to be neutral, but when allegations that touch on electoral malpractices emerge, it undermines the credibility of the election.
Also, the content is increasingly spreading online, making it necessary that it is verified.
Findings
First, our observer on ground said the claim that the police took election material away was false.
The observer says voting proceeded in the polling unit with the election material which were intact.
However, the tear-gas incident is corroborated, but the alleged removal of election materials by police officers remains unverified.
A review of multiple reports found that the incident was reported at Ife East Ward 10, also identified in reports as Modakeke Ward 3, in Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State.
The RAC was being used by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and election personnel to organise the movement of materials to polling units.
We used Google reverse image and others showed that several Nigerian news organisations reporting that people at the RAC alleged that police personnel fired tear gas as election officials, party agents and other stakeholders gathered at the centre.
SaharaReporters quoted a source who said police began firing tear gas at people assembled at the centre. A video reviewed by the publication also reportedly showed several police officers at the location and a woman was heard alleging that officers were tear-gassing those present.
The Sun similarly reported that armed policemen allegedly fired tear gas at voters, election officials and other stakeholders, disrupting the distribution of election materials.
DailyPost, however, described the individuals involved more cautiously as men dressed as police officers, reflecting the uncertainty over their identity and authority.
Vanguard reported that persons suspected to be policemen allegedly seized election materials and left the area after tear gas was released. However, the newspaper expressly stated that the identity of those who allegedly took the materials could not be independently verified. It also reported that there was no immediate official confirmation from the police or INEC.
However, the video alone does not establish what was loaded into the vehicle, who authorised the movement, or whether the materials were unlawfully removed.
An INEC official at Polling Unit 10, Modakeke III, Registration Area 10, Urban Day Grammar School, reportedly said voting at that polling unit had proceeded normally from about 8:30 a.m. and that there had been no disruption there as of 10:01 a.m.
This is significant because the reported confrontation occurred at an RAC centre. An incident at a RAC does not necessarily mean voting was disrupted at every polling unit in the ward.
A security related incident was reported at an RAC in the Modakeke/Ife East area.
Verdict
The claim that police deployed tear gas to restore order at the location is verified, but our observer at the location said the police did not take away election materials from the polling unit.
Conclusion
There is substantial media corroboration that a confrontation involving police personnel occurred at an RAC in Ife East Ward 10, also referred to as Modakeke Ward 3, and that there were allegations of tear-gas use that were partially verified.
However, the stronger claim that police officers “carted away ballot materials” has not been independently established.
At the time of this fact-check, reports indicated that the identities and actions of those who allegedly removed the materials remained unconfirmed, while no immediate official confirmation from the Nigeria Police Force or INEC had been reported.
.
