Tension heightened across parts of Osun State on Tuesday as political violence reportedly left at least three people injured, with the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress trading accusations over the incidents.
Reports indicated that members of the APC in the Ife Federal Constituency had embarked on an early morning rally across different parts of Ile Ife when suspected thugs allegedly attacked the group around the Sabo area.
Sources disclosed that the attackers were resisted, while a motorcycle believed to belong to some of the assailants was allegedly set ablaze. The development reportedly triggered fresh unrest as news of the incident spread to neighbouring communities.
Further findings suggested that another confrontation occurred in Akoda and Owode Ede in Ede North Local Government Area. Residents alleged that a campaign convoy returning from Ede became involved in an exchange of gunfire with supporters of the Accord Party.
Witnesses also reported seeing armed thugs in parts of Osogbo, including Aregbesola Bus Stop, Olaiya and Oke Fia, where gunshots were allegedly fired into the air, creating panic among residents and passersby.
Speaking with journalists at the Government House Banquet Hall in Osogbo, Governor Ademola Adeleke blamed the violence on supporters of the APC. According to him, individuals responsible for the attacks were loyalists of the party’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The governor called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and help prevent further escalation of violence in the state. He later visited some of the injured victims at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital in Osogbo and the General Hospital in Ede, accompanied by members of his cabinet and media representatives.
Adeleke stated that reports reaching his administration showed that the disturbances began in the Sabo area of Ile Ife, where armed individuals allegedly disrupted activities by firing gunshots. He further claimed that similar attacks later spread to Ede and Osogbo.
According to the governor, eyewitness accounts suggested that the assailants moved through Akoda and Aisu Junction before continuing their alleged attacks in Owode and other parts of Osogbo, including Olaiya, Old Garage, Oke Fia and areas around the Government House.
However, the APC Campaign Council rejected the allegations. The council’s Media Chairman, Remi Omowaye, accused the state government of failing to rein in individuals allegedly involved in attacks against opposition supporters.
He condemned what he described as increasing acts of intimidation, harassment and violence targeted at APC members, urging Governor Adeleke to caution those allegedly acting on behalf of the ruling party in the state.
Omowaye alleged that campaign vehicles belonging to the APC were attacked and vandalised in the Owode Ede area by suspected supporters of the PDP and Accord Party. He claimed that several supporters sustained injuries during the incident, while campaign materials and other properties were damaged.
In a separate development, an APC chieftain, Lawrence Dada, alleged that soldiers believed to be attached to the Nigerian Army Engineering Regiment Corps in Ede invaded his business premises located around the Testing Ground area of Osogbo.
Dada claimed that the military personnel removed valuable items from the premises, including two motorcycles, a generating set and a mounted CCTV camera. He further alleged that two individuals were taken away during the operation.
Questioning the basis of the action, Dada wondered whether belonging to a political party had become an offence. He called on the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command has advised political parties to suspend rallies within Oriade Local Government Area as part of efforts to prevent further violence.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the command explained that the decision followed credible intelligence reports pointing to potential threats to public peace and security in the area.
The police noted that attempts to broker peace among political stakeholders had yielded little progress due to the lack of cooperation from some of the parties involved.
According to the command, the directive was introduced as a preventive measure aimed at protecting lives and property while preserving law and order in the local government area.
Political parties, candidates, supporters and members of the public were urged to comply with the advisory in the interest of peace. The command also disclosed that an earlier peace meeting convened by the Commissioner of Police with the affected parties could not hold as planned.
As political activities intensify ahead of the elections, residents have continued to express concern over the rising tension in the state, calling on all stakeholders to embrace peaceful engagement and place the safety of citizens above partisan interests.
