FUOYE Reacts to Reports of Vice-Chancellor’s Arrest Over Osun Election

FUOYE has denied reports that Vice-Chancellor Professor Joshua Ogunwole was arrested or detained by police in Abuja after serving as Osun election Returning Officer.

Ogunwole served as the Chief Returning Officer for the Osun State governorship election conducted on August 15, 2026, in an assignment carried out under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement issued on Wednesday, FUOYE’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr Sunday Saanu, described the reports of the Vice-Chancellor’s alleged arrest and detention as false, baseless and deliberately fabricated.

Saanu said Ogunwole had neither been arrested nor detained by the police or any other security agency in connection with his electoral responsibilities.

He further clarified that the Vice-Chancellor had not been invited by any security agency over his participation in the election, stressing that he successfully discharged his responsibilities as the INEC Returning Officer for the Osun governorship poll.

The university management’s clarification came amid reports circulating following the election, with social media users and some online platforms alleging that the Vice-Chancellor had been arrested in Abuja after announcing the election results.

FUOYE, however, urged members of the public to disregard the reports and rely on verified information concerning the activities of the university and its principal officers.

The development also highlights the growing challenge of misinformation surrounding major electoral events, particularly where public officials and academics are assigned sensitive responsibilities.

As the Returning Officer, Ogunwole’s role placed him at the centre of the official process for the declaration of the Osun election result. His participation was therefore subject to considerable public attention following the conclusion of the poll.

The university stressed that his assignment was an official responsibility and that there was no basis for claims that he had been arrested or detained because of it.

The clarification is coming days after the August 15 election, which has continued to generate public discussion and competing narratives across traditional and social media platforms.

The management urged the public, members of the university community and other stakeholders to verify claims concerning FUOYE and its officials before sharing them.

The university’s position is that Professor Ogunwole remains the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution and that reports suggesting otherwise in connection with the Osun election are untrue.

The incident further underscores the importance of responsible information sharing during and after elections, when unverified claims can quickly spread and affect public confidence in institutions and individuals involved in the electoral process.