The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has raised the alarm over the alleged killing of Dele Ayegbo, nephew of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke.
The party alleged that Ayegbo was shot dead on Wednesday night in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area, as political tension continues to rise ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the APC spokesperson in the state, Kola Olabisi, said the victim was allegedly attacked at a road junction close to his residence in the Idofin area of the town.
Olabisi claimed that Ayegbo and another person were shot by suspected political thugs who reportedly arrived at the scene in a vehicle.
According to him, Ayegbo died at the scene, while the second victim was taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.
The APC spokesperson accused suspected members of the Accord Party of carrying out the attack, alleging that the group had been involved in attacks on APC members and supporters across the state.
“The killing of the nephew of our campaign Director-General in Esa-Oke is one death too many which must be urgently unravelled by the police in the interest of fairness and justice,” Olabisi said.
He urged the police to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
Olabisi also alleged that political violence had claimed the lives of more than 30 APC members in Osun State since 2022.
He claimed that Ijesaland accounted for the largest share of the alleged deaths, with 17 of the 30 cases reportedly recorded in the area.
The APC spokesperson further accused the state government of failing to condemn previous attacks allegedly targeting opposition supporters.
He claimed that the alleged silence had raised concerns among party members about their safety as the election approaches.
The party appealed to the Osun State Police Command to intensify security operations and investigate reported cases of political violence before Saturday’s poll.
Olabisi alleged that the attacks were intended to intimidate APC members and discourage them from turning out to vote.
“The purpose is to scare away our members and supporters from exercising their civic responsibility on Saturday,” he said.
Police yet to confirm incident
There was no immediate official confirmation of the alleged killing from the Osun State Police Command.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report. Its spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, had not responded to requests for comment.
The allegation comes amid heightened political activity and security concerns in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The ruling Accord Party and the APC have been engaged in a tense political contest, with supporters of the two parties exchanging accusations over alleged violence and intimidation.
The latest allegation has added to concerns about the security situation in the state and the need for security agencies to prevent violence and ensure the safety of voters, candidates and party supporters during the election.
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