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APC Campaign Council alleges Governor Ademola Adeleke’s political allies are behind the recent wave of violence in Osun, insisting former Governor Gboyega Oyetola is responsible for attacks across the state ahead of the governorship election.
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Prince Bayo Adeleke dismisses allegations linking Oyetola to election-related unrest, accuses the governor of spreading false claims, and says security agencies are already pursuing individuals allegedly involved in violent incidents.
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Campaign chief claims insecurity worsened after the Adeleke administration assumed office in November 2022, cites attacks on APC members and the killing of Ilesa West council chairman Remi Abbas, and urges President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
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APC expresses confidence in its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), argues that the ruling camp is losing political support ahead of the poll, and calls for a peaceful, free, and credible election in Osun State.
August 5, (THEWILL) — The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s political allies of orchestrating violence across Osun State, dismissing allegations linking former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to the recent unrest as “false” and politically motivated.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Director-General of the Osun Central APC Governorship Campaign Council, Prince Bayo Adeleke, alleged that members of the ruling camp, rather than the opposition, were responsible for the wave of attacks recorded across the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
He rejected Governor Adeleke’s claims that Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, was sponsoring political violence, insisting that the accusations were intended to divert public attention from the state’s worsening security situation.
“Governor Adeleke should please stop this. All these claims are lies. He claims they are killing his people, but it is his people who killed our chairman in Ilesa West. So it is the governor who is bringing this insecurity,” he alleged.
Prince Adeleke further accused the governor of failing to confront individuals he described as criminals allegedly operating within his political circle, while claiming that security agencies had intensified efforts to apprehend those responsible for recent attacks.
“The governor himself cannot say he is not dining and wining with these criminals, but he is crying foul because what they did in 2022 is what they think will repeat itself. But the police are up to it,” he said.
The APC campaign chief argued that insecurity in Osun began shortly after Governor Adeleke assumed office on November 27, 2022.
According to him, the governor’s executive order reversing the appointments of some traditional rulers ignited disputes in several communities, laying the foundation for the current security challenges.
“The issue of insecurity in Osun State did not start just recently. It actually started at the inception of the government of Governor Adeleke. Immediately he assumed office on November 27, 2022, and he made a proclamation using his executive order to remove some traditional rulers (Obas), and that caused serious crises in those communities,” he alleged.
He also claimed that APC members had been repeatedly targeted since the 2022 election, alleging that at least 20 party supporters were killed during that period.
Prince Adeleke cited the killing of the Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government, Remi Abbas, on February 17, 2025, while resuming office, as further evidence of what he described as persistent politically motivated attacks against APC members.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene by directing the Osun State Government to rid the state of individuals he described as wanted criminals.
“We are also calling on our President to tell the Governor of Osun State to push out all these wanted criminals,” he appealed.
Responding to Governor Adeleke’s call for visa restrictions against Oyetola and other political figures over alleged election violence, Prince Adeleke described the move as unnecessary and accused the governor of dragging the former governor into issues unrelated to him.
“Governor Adeleke is confused. How can you bring in former Governor Oyetola? The man served for four years, is now a Minister, and is on his own. What is his concern with this?” he queried.
He also claimed that Governor Adeleke’s political coalition was collapsing ahead of the governorship election, alleging that several influential politicians who backed the governor in 2022 had since withdrawn their support.
According to him, the APC remained the strongest political platform in Osun and its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, was well-positioned to win the election.
Prince Adeleke dismissed claims by the Accord Party that it had become the party to beat, arguing that genuine popularity would not require intimidation or violence.
“Everything about the Accord Party is packaged. If they know they are popular, there is no need for violence. Governor Adeleke should allow people to vote.
“They are expecting a repeat of 2022, where voting continued until 11:00 p.m. in some areas. We did not lose that election; we got over 350,000 votes. The party to beat today is the APC, and our candidate is Bola Oyebamiji,” he stated.
Background
Political tension has continued to build in Osun State as campaigns intensify ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier accused former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and other opposition figures of allegedly sponsoring election-related violence and urged the international community to impose visa bans and other sanctions on those found culpable.
The APC has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that its members have been the principal victims of political attacks while accusing the state government of failing to rein in violent actors.
The exchange marks the latest in a series of sharp accusations between the two major political camps, with both sides urging security agencies to ensure a peaceful, credible, and violence-free election as the state heads to the polls.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
