The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alleged that no fewer than 30 of its members and supporters have been killed since Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed office in 2022, accusing the state government of fostering political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Hon. Wole Oke, who accused the governor of attempting to portray himself as a victim despite what he described as sustained attacks on opposition members during the Adeleke administration.
The APC’s reaction followed comments by Governor Adeleke during a campaign rally in Olorunda Local Government Area, where he urged President Bola Tinubu not to allow the forthcoming governorship election to be manipulated, warning that any attempt to rig the poll could trigger a repeat of the political crisis that engulfed the South-West in 1983.
Responding, Oke described the governor’s remarks as “false, distasteful, irresponsible and completely unsubstantiated,” insisting that they reflected growing anxiety within the ruling administration.
“They are nothing but a manifestation of the frustration that has enveloped the outgoing governor as the reality of an impending electoral defeat continues to stare him in the face,” he said.
The APC campaign chief further accused the Adeleke administration of presiding over an atmosphere of political violence, alleging that several members of the opposition party had been killed since 2022.
“It is rather ironic that Governor Adeleke now seeks to portray himself as a victim of political intimidation when, since 2022, no fewer than 30 members and supporters of the APC have been killed by the Accord Party thugs believed to be sponsored by his administration, with at least 10 of those deaths occurring in recent times,” Oke alleged.
The party also alleged that the governor had granted freedom to suspected criminals through executive action and provided refuge for individuals allegedly on the Nigeria Police watchlist.
“It is hypocritical that a governor, who through executive fiat recently set some alleged hardened criminals free from prisons and unleashed them to kill and maim members of our party, is playing victim and wailing on top of his voice,” the statement added.
According to the APC, the governor’s comments were aimed at diverting public attention from what it described as the shortcomings of his administration and creating unnecessary tension ahead of the governorship election.
The party maintained that the people of Osun were capable of distinguishing between genuine leadership and political propaganda and said Governor Adeleke would eventually be held accountable for the management of the state’s resources.
“Osun people are discerning enough to distinguish genuine leadership from political drama that the Adeleke government is putting up,” Oke said.
The APC urged Governor Adeleke to accept the outcome of the election peacefully and refrain from making statements capable of heightening political tension in the state.
Expressing confidence in its electoral chances, the party said its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), remained the preferred choice of voters.
“The people of Osun have made up their minds to embrace a new era of responsible, transparent and people-oriented leadership under the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO). No amount of inflammatory rhetoric or desperate propaganda can alter the democratic will of the people,” the statement said.
The allegations contained in the APC statement have not been independently verified, and the Adeleke administration had not responded to the specific claims at the time of filing this report.
