By Lizzy Chirkpi
Tension has heightened in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election following the reported killing of Dele Ayegbo, nephew of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign Director-General, Hon. Oluwole Oke.
The APC alleged that Ayegbo was shot dead on Wednesday night at a road junction close to his residence in the Idofin area of Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area of the state.
According to the party, Ayegbo was attacked by suspected political thugs who were riding in a vehicle as political activities intensified across the state ahead of the August 15 election.
The APC, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, alleged that the attackers were members of a “hit squad” linked to the Accord Party.
“The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the killing of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke’s nephew, Dele Ayegbo, in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Council Area of the state on Wednesday night by the hit squad of the Accord Party who have been terrorising the members and supporters of the opposition APC across the state,” the party said.
The APC further alleged that two people were shot during the incident, with Ayegbo dying at the scene while the second victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Describing the incident as “one death too many”, the party called on the police to investigate the killing and bring those responsible to justice.
“The killing of the nephew of our campaign Director-General in Esa-Oke is one death too many which must be urgently unravelled by the police in the interest of fairness and justice,” Olabisi said.
However, the Osun State Police Command had not publicly confirmed Ayegbo’s death or the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting as of the time of filing this report.
TheCable reported that efforts to obtain confirmation from the command were unsuccessful, with the police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, yet to respond to inquiries.
Rising casualty claims
The reported killing comes amid growing concerns over political violence in Osun, with rival political camps presenting different casualty figures ahead of Saturday’s election.
The APC has alleged that more than 30 of its members have been killed by political thugs, claiming that Ijesaland has accounted for a significant proportion of the reported deaths.
“A common observation has been that whenever our members were killed, the self-acclaimed chief security officer of the state would not condemn the killing which gives credence to his approval of the rampant extra-judicial killings of our members and supporters in the state,” Olabisi alleged.
The Accord Party, on its part, has alleged that 29 people have been killed in political violence across the state.
Similarly, Senator Francis Fadahunsi claimed that more than 40 people had been killed in Osun East over the past year. He also alleged that 12 APC members were killed within 24 hours in recent attacks.
Meanwhile, a pre-election security assessment by the Kimpact Development Initiative recorded 73 election-related violent incidents and 29 deaths as of August 11.
The report identified Osogbo as the worst-hit area, recording 22 violent incidents and 15 fatalities.
The Nation also reported that non-governmental organisations monitoring the violence had put the death toll at more than 30 amid pockets of violence across the state.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns despite repeated assurances by security authorities that adequate personnel have been deployed across Osun to prevent violence before, during and after the election.
Police intensify security
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ishyaku Mohammed, to coordinate security operations for the election.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, the DIG will coordinate the police component of the election security arrangement while working with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
The IGP has also warned political actors and their supporters against acts of violence.
“There is no room for violence,” Disu said in a statement issued by the police.
He urged candidates and political party leaders to restrain their supporters from engaging in thuggery and warned troublemakers to stay away from the election.
The police said the security operation would be guided by professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights and protection of the electoral process.
The deployment involves personnel from the police, military and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), with additional police formations drafted from neighbouring states.
The police have also announced a minimum deployment of four officers to each polling unit across Osun to strengthen security on election day.
Political heavyweights converge on Osun
The security concerns have emerged as major political figures from across the country converge on Osun in the final days of the campaign.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar arrived in Osogbo earlier this week to campaign for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam.
“I have arrived in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, alongside a delegation of political associates, to stand with our governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Folasayo Salaam (Iwaloye), and our great party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), at the grand finale of our campaign ahead of Saturday’s governorship election,” Atiku said.
Omoyele Sowore has also intensified mobilisation for the African Action Congress (AAC), while APC leaders have converged on Osogbo in support of the party’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and several APC governors were also reported to have arrived in Osogbo ahead of the party’s final rally, while Sowore led last-minute mobilisation for the AAC.
With only two days to the election, competing rallies, allegations of political killings and intensified mobilisation by political parties have heightened fears that violence could overshadow the electoral process.
The immediate concern is whether the extensive security deployment will translate into effective protection for voters, candidates, party agents and residents as Osun prepares for Saturday’s closely watched governorship election.