The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has alleged that Dele Ayegbo, nephew of the party’s governorship campaign director-general Wole Oke, was shot dead in Esa-Oke on Wednesday night.
According to a statement by APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi, the incident happened around a road junction close to Ayegbo’s house in the Idofin area of Obokun Local Government Area. Olabisi claimed the attackers arrived in a car and opened fire.
The party said two of its members were shot during the attack. Ayegbo died instantly, while the other victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Esa-Oke where he is receiving treatment.
Olabisi blamed the shooting on what he called “the hit squad of the Accord Party,” alleging that the group has been targeting APC members and supporters across the state. He described Ayegbo’s death as “one death too many” and called on the Nigeria Police Force to launch an immediate investigation.
Wider allegations of violence
The APC spokesperson also alleged a pattern of attacks ahead of the election. He claimed that over 30 APC members have been killed by political thugs since 2022.
“Seventeen of those killings happened in Ijesaland, the highest in the state,” Olabisi said. He further alleged that the state government has failed to condemn previous attacks, which he said gives the impression of tacit approval.
The party linked the latest killing to efforts to intimidate voters ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
“The purpose is to scare away our members and supporters from exercising their civic responsibility on Saturday,” Olabisi stated.
Police response and context
As of the time of this report, the Osun State Police Command had not confirmed the incident. Spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi was yet to respond to requests for comment.
The allegation comes days before the August 15 governorship election. The political atmosphere in Osun has grown tense in recent weeks, with supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and the APC trading accusations.
Both parties have called on supporters to remain peaceful, while civil society groups have urged security agencies to increase presence in hotspots across the state.
