…Claims 30 APC members killed in one month
Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly fuelling political violence in the district ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Fadahunsi made the allegation on Wednesday during a press conference in Osogbo, where he claimed that more than 40 people had been killed in Osun East over the past year.
The senator alleged that 30 members of the All Progressives Congress had been killed in the district within the last month, claiming that the attacks were intended to create fear and discourage opposition supporters from turning out for the election.
Fadahunsi’s allegations came amid an escalating political dispute with Adeleke, who recently called for the senator’s arrest over alleged comments considered an incitement against members and supporters of the Accord Party.
The senator alleged that the violence in Osun East was part of a wider attempt to destabilise the APC stronghold and suppress voter participation.
“Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of APC, for us to be destabilised, so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes,” he said.
Fadahunsi cited several incidents which he claimed had contributed to insecurity in Ijesaland.
He alleged that four people were killed and 16 others sustained gunshot injuries during a crisis over control of local government administration.
He also referred to violence in Esa-Oke in April 2025, claiming that four people were killed while 12 others suffered gunshot wounds.
The senator accused unnamed government officials and political associates of having links to some of the violent incidents, alleging that political interests were responsible for the unrest.
He further alleged that four of his constituents were killed by members of the Amotekun Corps in Akinlalu, while six others were critically injured.
“In the last one year, over 40 people were killed in the district unchecked by either the police or the governor,” Fadahunsi alleged.
The senator also claimed that individuals allegedly associated with cult groups had been used to perpetrate violence in parts of Ijesaland.
He mentioned Solomon Adefioye, popularly known as Solo Iwara, in connection with his allegations, while also referring to the death of a suspected cultist identified as Rogba.
Fadahunsi alleged that Rogba had been linked to previous killings before he was reportedly killed by a rival cult group.
The senator expressed concern over the security situation ahead of the August 15 election, alleging that APC supporters had increasingly become targets of attacks.
He claimed that 12 APC members were killed within a 24-hour period in recent incidents, with several others sustaining injuries.
“Go to Wesley Guild, there are corpses everywhere. The former Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, and Remi Omowaiye are in hospital instead of planning for the election,” he said.
Fadahunsi alleged that the attacks were designed to instil fear among voters in Osun East, contrasting the situation with Ede, which he described as the governor’s hometown.
“We observed that it is only Osun East that this governor from Ede is terrorising,” he said.
The senator said he had led a protest to the palace of the Owa of Ijesaland to draw attention to what he described as politically motivated killings.
He appealed to traditional rulers and security agencies to protect voters and ensure that no individual or group was allowed to prevent residents from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
“I want to urge the security agencies to ensure arrest of anyone who may want to prevent our people from coming out en masse,” he said.
Fadahunsi also accused the Director-General of the Accord Party campaign council, Senator Oyewumi Iyiola, of intervening in a case involving a suspect allegedly connected to the killing of Remi Abass in Irewole.
He questioned what he described as inconsistencies in demands for justice over politically related violence.
“If they want to return to power by force, it is not possible. Let us do our election free and fair, not by introducing terrorism in my district to chase away the people,” he said.
The senator also dismissed Adeleke’s allegations against the police, military and APC, arguing that the governor’s accusations suggested concern over his prospects in the election.
“If Governor Adeleke is accusing police, army, APC and others, then he is afraid of losing,” Fadahunsi said.
He urged residents of Osun East to remain calm and resolute and participate fully in Saturday’s election.
Fadahunsi expressed confidence in the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, predicting that he would emerge victorious.
“By August 15, when all these have ended, let them be going around to be talking grammar where they feel. The people of Osun State have understood the game that they are devilish and they are ready to reject them. AMBO will win the governorship race,” he said.
The allegations could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report. Governor Adeleke and the other individuals and groups accused by the senator were not immediately available for a response.
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