Tension has heightened in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election following the killing of an All Progressives Congress (APC) supporter and the shooting of another party member in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area.
The victim, identified as Ayegbo Oluwadele, was reportedly shot dead around the Oluwole Oka family compound in Esa-Oke on Thursday, while another APC supporter, Taiwo Oluwadele, sustained gunshot injuries and was said to be in critical condition.
Ayegbo was the nephew of Busayo Oluwole Oke, the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council and a member of the House of Representatives.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the death but declined to disclose details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
READ ALSO:Osun election: ‘We’ll laugh, they’ll cry’ on Saturday — Oyetola
The APC Campaign Council also confirmed the attack. Its spokesperson, Oluremi Omowaye, alleged that supporters of rival political parties were responsible for attacks on APC members in different parts of the state.
“Unfortunately, we lost Ayegbo Oluwadele. Another member of our party; while Taiwo is still in a very critical condition.
“It is sad that we are being killed while the governor is playing the victim’s card. As I speak, we have lost about 40 of our members, and nothing has been done to stop this.
“A few days ago in Ilesha, it was alleged that one of the prisoners released by the government was responsible for the killing in Ilesha.
“Five people were shot. Four of them died, while one is in critical condition at the Teaching Hospital. One of them is still in the ICU. And what was their offence? They were putting on APC caps.”
Omowaye further identified three APC members — Idowu Laide, Ebuke Emmanuel and Adebiyi Ebeneezer — whom he alleged were attacked in Atakumasa East Local Government Area.
Another APC chieftain, Kehinde Ayantunji, accused a prominent member of the Osun State House of Assembly of attacking APC supporters in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
He also alleged that the party’s House of Representatives candidate, Francis Eniade, was attacked in front of the Okuku Divisional Police Station.
Ayantunji further claimed that five people were shot in Ilesa days earlier, with four reportedly dying and one hospitalised in critical condition. He alleged that the victims were targeted for wearing APC caps.
However, the Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the allegation that members of the Accord Party were responsible for attacks on APC supporters.
