Osun Poll: APC Condemns Killing of Campaign DG’s Nephew, Says About 40 Members Have Been Killed

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has condemned the reported killing of Oladele Ayegbo, the nephew of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Oluwole Oke, describing the incident as another disturbing development amid growing concerns over political violence in the state.

Ayegbo was reportedly killed in Esa-Oke, in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, in an incident that has heightened concerns about the safety of political supporters and residents ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

Reports indicated that the incident occurred late at night in the Idofin area of Esa-Oke, where Ayegbo was reportedly attacked while travelling in his vehicle. Another person was said to have sustained injuries during the incident and was taken to a medical facility for treatment.

The APC has reacted strongly to the development, demanding that security agencies investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing and bring anyone found responsible to justice.

The party has also alleged that the incident is part of a wider pattern of violence directed at its members and supporters across Osun State.

According to the APC campaign council, approximately 40 of its members have allegedly been killed in different incidents in recent weeks.

The party described the alleged deaths as deeply troubling and warned that continued violence could undermine the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming election.

The APC has called on security agencies to intensify their efforts to protect political actors and ordinary citizens, particularly in areas where political tensions are considered high.

The party has also alleged that some of the attacks were politically motivated and accused supporters of the Accord Party of involvement in some incidents.

However, those allegations remain claims made by the APC and have not been independently established as facts. Accord has rejected accusations of involvement in the violence and has called for proper investigations to determine the identities and motives of those responsible.

The competing claims have added another layer of tension to an already closely contested political environment.

Both parties are seeking to strengthen their positions ahead of the governorship election, while incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke is also campaigning to retain his position.

The political contest has attracted considerable attention across the state, with the APC and Accord among the opposition parties seeking to challenge the incumbent administration.

As campaign activities increase, concerns about political violence have also become more prominent.

The death of Ayegbo is particularly significant because of his connection to a senior figure within the APC campaign organisation.

His killing has raised concerns among party members about whether campaign officials and supporters could become targets as the election draws closer.

The APC has therefore urged its supporters to remain calm while calling on security agencies to act quickly.

The party argued that political disagreements should be resolved through democratic processes rather than violence.

It also stressed that voters should be allowed to participate in political activities without fear of intimidation or attack.

Accord, meanwhile, has denied any involvement in the killing and other violent incidents attributed to its supporters.

The party has maintained that it supports peaceful political participation and has called for an impartial investigation into the various incidents being reported across the state.

The disagreement between the parties highlights the difficulty security agencies face when investigating politically sensitive crimes.

Political parties may have their own interpretations of violent incidents, but investigators must establish responsibility through evidence, witness accounts and other credible information.

This is particularly important during election periods, when unverified accusations can spread rapidly and increase tensions between supporters of rival parties.

The police and other security agencies are therefore expected to investigate the Esa-Oke incident thoroughly and determine what led to the attack.

Authorities will also need to establish whether the killing was politically motivated or connected to another form of criminal activity.

Governor Adeleke has reportedly condemned the incident and called for calm, while also directing security agencies to strengthen security operations in Esa-Oke and surrounding communities.

The governor’s intervention comes amid growing calls for the state government and security agencies to prevent further attacks before the election.

The security of voters, candidates, campaign officials and party supporters is essential to the credibility of any democratic process.

If citizens begin to fear attending campaign rallies, political meetings or polling centres, voter participation could be affected.

Political violence can also create lasting divisions within communities, particularly when residents identify strongly with rival political parties.

This makes it important for political leaders to exercise restraint and discourage their supporters from engaging in retaliatory actions.

The reported claim by the APC that about 40 of its members have been killed also requires independent verification.

If confirmed, such a figure would represent a serious security concern and would require urgent intervention from the relevant authorities.

At the same time, allegations made against Accord or any other political organisation should be investigated rather than automatically accepted as fact.

Responsibility for criminal acts should be established through evidence, and individuals should not be condemned solely because of their political affiliation.

The principle of due process remains important even in politically charged cases.

Anyone arrested in connection with the killings would be entitled to defend themselves through the judicial process, while victims and their families would be entitled to seek justice.

For the family of Ayegbo, however, the political debate surrounding the incident cannot remove the pain caused by his death.

His killing has left relatives and friends mourning and has once again raised concerns about the human cost of political rivalry.

Every death associated with election violence represents more than a political statistic. It involves a family that loses a loved one, children who may lose a parent or relative, and communities that may be left dealing with fear and anger.

This is why political violence remains one of the major threats to peaceful elections.

Nigeria has experienced several cases of violence before, during and after elections, making security preparations a major part of every electoral cycle.

Osun State will therefore face the challenge of ensuring that political competition does not escalate into physical confrontation.

Security agencies will be expected to increase intelligence gathering and maintain adequate security around sensitive locations and political gatherings.

Community leaders can also play an important role by encouraging residents to reject violence and report suspicious activities.

Political parties, meanwhile, have a responsibility to educate their supporters about peaceful participation.

The focus of the campaign should remain on candidates, policies, development plans and the issues affecting residents rather than intimidation or confrontation.

The APC’s condemnation of Ayegbo’s killing has consequently brought renewed attention to the security situation in Osun.

The party has demanded that the perpetrators be identified and prosecuted, while Accord has denied responsibility and called for an impartial investigation.

The state government has also called for calm as security agencies work to establish what happened.

The coming weeks will be important as political activities intensify.

Candidates and their supporters will continue travelling across the state to meet voters, organise rallies and promote their political programmes.

Ensuring that these activities take place peacefully will require cooperation from political parties, security agencies and communities.

The ultimate responsibility for determining the winner of the election will rest with voters through the ballot box and the relevant electoral process.

Political violence has no legitimate place in that process.

As investigations continue into the Esa-Oke killing, residents will be watching closely to see whether the authorities can identify those responsible and prevent similar incidents from occurring.

For the APC, the immediate demand is justice for Ayegbo and other members it says have lost their lives.

For Accord, the priority is to reject what it considers unfounded accusations and ensure that any investigation is conducted fairly.

For the people of Osun State, the broader hope is that the election will be conducted in an atmosphere where every voter can make a choice without fear.

The death of Ayegbo has once again demonstrated the dangers that can arise when political competition becomes intertwined with violence.

As the 2026 governorship election approaches, the challenge before all stakeholders is to ensure that political disagreements remain within the boundaries of democracy and that no further lives are lost in the pursuit of political power.