Violence and Fear Rise as Osun Governorship Election Approaches

With less than two months to the Osun governorship election, political violence is on the rise in the state. This situation is making many people worry about whether security agencies can ensure a peaceful election. Bola Bamigbola reports.

John Milton, a poet from the 17th century, once said: “The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.” This means that the early signs of something can show how it might turn out.

Based on this idea, anyone who has kept an eye on politics in Osun State since February 2025 might not need special insight to guess what the August 15 governorship election will look like.

Osun, once known as the “State of the Virtuous,” seems to be trapped in a cycle of violence. Non-state actors are becoming more active in many communities, making the situation worse.

Bodies are being found regularly. Violent clashes are now common for residents, leaving both fighters and innocent people hurt or dead.

Political thugs working for major parties in the state seem to be getting bolder. Many people believe that the law is not doing enough to stop the rising political violence.

Reports by Sunday PUNCH show that this current wave of unrest began in February 2025. Local government chairmen from the All Progressives Congress (APC) returned to their offices after winning a court case in Akure.

This court case followed the October 15, 2022 election, where then-governor Adegboyega Oyetola lost his bid for re-election on July 16, 2022. Just before Ademola Adeleke, his successor, was sworn in, a Federal High Court in Osogbo removed the APC’s local government chairmen.

Even though they appealed, the state government stopped them from continuing in office. Adeleke appointed caretaker executives while preparing for a new election.

However, the Court of Appeal's judgment in February 2025 came just 12 days before the new local government election that Adeleke planned. This set the APC chairmen against the PDP officials who were expected to come from the February 22 election.

True to their promise to reclaim their positions, the APC chairmen went to local government offices on February 17. They faced strong opposition from PDP supporters.

The situation turned violent. By the time peace was restored, police reported that six people had been killed, including the APC chairman of Irewole Local Government, Remi Abbas.

Since that time, many residents say Osun has struggled to find peace.

Violence has continued to rise, and critics say security agencies seem indifferent. Apart from Abbas's suspected killers, records show that no other people linked to the local government crisis have faced justice. Many who were arrested were released without charges.

As a result, those suspected of violence and the families of their victims are living in the same areas, often filled with bitterness.

Politicians, mostly from the APC and Accord, are accused of working with cult groups, transport unions, and criminal networks to gain loyalty ahead of the governorship election.

Rival gang members reportedly target each other, while innocent residents often get caught in the middle of these fights.

On June 8, some communities were caught in violence linked to clashes between supporters of Accord Party and the APC.

Investigations by Sunday PUNCH found that the trouble began in Ile-Ife during a solidarity walk for APC's governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

The walk, which started around 9 am at Mayfair in Ile-Ife, was led by Abimbola Ajilesoro, a member of the House of Representatives. Trouble arose when the procession reached the Sabo area.

Sources said the violence started when hoodlums tore campaign posters of a rival candidate.

Eyewitnesses, who wanted to remain anonymous, said dangerous weapons were used during the fight between hoodlums from the APC and Accord Party.

After the Ile-Ife incident, gunshots were also heard in Aisu, Owode-Ede, and several areas in Osogbo. This created panic among residents.

An elderly man was hurt during the shooting in Owode-Ede and taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

In Aregbesola Area, a driver in a commercial bus was hit by a stray bullet and rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

Political analysts warn that as the election approaches, violence is growing while security agencies seem unable to stop it.

Supporters from both the Accord Party and APC continue to defend suspected attackers online and offline.

A political analyst who wished to remain anonymous said, “Curiously, security agencies seem to follow the narratives from partisan supporters. When supporters defend certain incidents online, the police often seem satisfied, allowing investigations to die down and suspects to go free.”

Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, blamed the APC for the rising violence.

In a statement, Salam said, “The whole world should note that almost all the victims of recent political violence in Osun State have been members and supporters of the Accord Party.”

He mentioned that just weeks ago, Mr. Kolade Eluyera, an Accord member in Irewole Local Government, was killed. On June 3, 2026, Hon. Asimiyu Ajibola, the Chairman of Accord in Osogbo Local Government, was shot multiple times by APC thugs and is still in the hospital fighting for his life.

Similarly, Mr. Ismaila Ibrahim and Hon. Kasali Adebayo died during the APC-led violent invasion of local government councils in 2025. In Boripe Local Government, Oladimeji Taiwo and Oloyede Damilare were killed in another APC-led attack.

“These are not mere allegations. They are tragic realities that have left families devastated and communities traumatized.”

Salam also listed several Accord members killed or injured in various attacks, including Aderemi Abideen Abiodun, Aderombi Abass, Ganiyu Gele, Wole Vulcanizer, Rafiu Quadri Abiodun, and Elijah Baba Ewe.

The lawmaker representing Ede Federal Constituency claimed the identities of several APC thugs linked to violence are already known, accusing party leaders of protecting them.

The APC, in response, dismissed the claims and accused the ruling party of causing the violence.

Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said four APC members were killed by suspected Accord hoodlums in Ilesa within three days.

Olabisi also claimed that Saheed Oyegunju from Ward 9, Ikire, the hometown of Oyebamiji, was killed by hoodlums linked to the Accord Party.

In a statement, Olabisi urged the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the renewed attacks on APC members.

He stated, “The Executive Chairman of Ilesa-West Local Government, Olabide Oluwasegun, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when political thugs attacked his home. He reported that at least four APC members have been killed in just three days.”

He added that the current killings of APC members by Accord thugs remind him of the 2022 incidents when around 30 of their members were killed across the state.

“We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to direct the state commissioner to investigate and bring the culprits to justice.”

Political observers see a growing fear among residents. Many are now hesitant to openly support any political party.

What used to be harmless, like wearing a party cap, is now seen as risky.

Some residents told our correspondent they have stopped wearing party-branded items or showing political symbols to stay safe.

Tajudeen Olaore, a commercial motorcyclist in Osogbo, and Simbiat Adeola, a trader at Oluode Market, said they have decided to avoid party souvenirs until after the election.

Olaore mentioned the killing of a teenager, Ezekiel Olapade, in Ilobu by suspected political thugs.

According to him, the attackers were aiming for a man wearing an Accord Party cap but hit the teenager instead.

“Until after the election, I won’t take any souvenirs from political parties again. Showing party colors puts people in danger. Many are scared to share their political views. Those thugs are everywhere,” Olaore said.

The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Gotan, said many killings are linked to cults.

During a meeting about security, he mentioned that many suspects have been arrested and taken to court.

The police commissioner promised to increase efforts to rid the state of criminals and ensure a peaceful election.

“We have arrested many suspects. Some are students. Most of those behind these killings are cult members.

“Many schools have these bad elements. We will increase surveillance in those schools because we have recovered dangerous weapons from campuses.

“We have a team led by a youth officer who regularly engages students. We are running programs to discourage young people from joining cults, and I assure you that cult-related crimes will decrease in the state,” he said.

Beyond the back-and-forth between the APC and Accord Party, civil society groups are also worried about how political actors and security agencies are behaving. Waheed Lawal, Chairman of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, called on politicians to focus on campaigns about issues instead of violence. He warned that rising tensions could hurt public trust in the electoral process.

Lawal emphasized that security agencies must remain neutral, stating that any sign of bias could worsen the situation. He criticized the failure to arrest those seen carrying weapons in public and insisted that security agencies must act fairly and enforce the law.

His comments reflect the worries of many residents and political observers who fear that lack of action against violent offenders could empower political thugs and further destabilize the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.