“We Are the Victims, Not Adeleke” — APC Candidate Denies Violence Claims as Osun Election Nears

As the clock ticks toward Osun State’s high-stakes governorship election on Saturday, August 15, 2026, the political atmosphere has become increasingly charged—not just with campaign rhetoric, but with grave accusations of violence and victimhood. At the center of the storm is Biodun Oyebamiji, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , who has pushed back forcefully against claims made by the state’s incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke.

Oyebamiji, a former Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) , addressed journalists on Friday to present a starkly different narrative from the one being promoted by the ruling Accord Party in the state. While Governor Adeleke has repeatedly accused the APC of orchestrating violent attacks to instill fear among his supporters, Oyebamiji dismissed the allegations as a calculated attempt to gain public sympathy.

“We are the victims. The governor is just playing the victim to curry sympathy. In his mind, he knows the truth,” Oyebamiji declared. “Both the APC and I are the real victims of persistent political violence in Osun State.”

Oyebamiji did not mince words as he detailed a grim history of violence that he claims has plagued his party since the 2022 governorship election. He alleged that no fewer than 25 APC members were murdered during that electoral cycle by agents of the political party currently in power. He further cited the killing of Remi Abass, the APC Chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, who was reportedly murdered inside the council secretariat last year. According to Oyebamiji, such killings have continued unchecked from 2023 to date, with several citizens and party loyalists losing their lives in politically motivated attacks.

“Our party has documented several politically motivated attacks and killings, for which we continue to seek justice through the courts. The ongoing political violence has all the signs of government in power on it,” he stated.

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Oyebamiji also referenced a recent visit by the Inspector-General of Police to Osun State, during which the police chief publicly raised concerns about individuals accused of criminal activities being housed within the Government House. He pointed to recent attacks in Ede, the hometown of Governor Adeleke, as further evidence that opposition party members are being targeted.

Governor Adeleke, on his part, has painted an equally dire picture. In recent public statements, he claimed that seven Accord Party members have been killed in the past three months alone, with more than 20 others injured and over 60 party members currently in police custody. The governor has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Peace Committee to intervene, stating that “Osun is bleeding.” The divergence in narratives highlights the deep polarization gripping the state. Both parties accuse each other of political thuggery, and independent reports suggest a frightening escalation. A recent analysis by Kimpact Development Initiative recorded 44 election-related violent incidents and 13 fatalities between October 2025 and June 2026 in Osun State. In a particularly shocking incident last month, suspected gunmen attacked an APC meeting in Osogbo, killing two members and injuring a 13-year-old girl.

Amid the finger-pointing, Oyebamiji also took time to outline his vision for the state, should he secure the mandate of the people. He pledged that within his first 100 days in office, his administration would undertake a comprehensive review of all outstanding entitlements owed to active and retired workers and commence immediate payment. He further highlighted three key pillars of his economic recovery plan: operationalizing the Dagbolu Dry Port to boost trade and logistics; empowering 10,000 young people through strategic partnerships in information and communication technology; and institutionalizing monthly meetings of the State Security Council to involve security agencies, traditional rulers, and local government leaders in proactive security management.

The August 15 election is widely seen as a three-horse race among Governor Adeleke, APC’s Oyebamiji, and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) . With tensions running high, the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed multiple arrests in connection with the violence and has assured residents of adequate security at polling units across the state. For now, the question of who is the true victim remains a matter of political narrative. But as both parties brace for the polls, many residents are simply hoping for peace—and that the ballot, not the bullet, will decide the next leader of Osun State.

“We Are the Victims, Not Adeleke” — APC Candidate Denies Violence Claims as Osun Election Nears

12-Year-Old Boy Shot During APC Campaign Rally in Ilesa, Protests Erupt in Osun

The incident has triggered angry demonstrations, with residents demanding a transparent investigation into the alleged involvement of a state lawmaker and security personnel.

Tension has gripped Ilesa, Osun State, following the alleged shooting of a 12-year-old boy during an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The incident has sparked protests in parts of the town, with residents taking to the streets to demand answers and accountability. According to eyewitness accounts, the boy was sitting inside his mother’s shop when gunshots rang out along the campaign route. Several APC supporters were also reportedly injured in the melee. The exact circumstances that led to the shooting remain unclear, and it has not been independently established who fired the shots. A photograph circulating online shows the 12-year-old lying on what appears to be a hospital bed, suggesting he has been receiving medical treatment.

In a development that has intensified public anger, eyewitnesses have alleged that the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Akerele, was present at the scene alongside operatives of the Osun State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, when the shooting occurred. Some eyewitnesses have further alleged that the Amotekun operatives and the lawmaker directed gunfire at APC members, resulting in the injuries. These allegations have not been independently verified. “Scores of APC members also sustained injuries,” an eyewitness was quoted as saying. The number of people injured, including the condition of the 12-year-old boy, could not be independently confirmed as of press time.

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The shooting has triggered protests in parts of Ilesa, with residents demanding a transparent investigation into the incident, particularly regarding the reported involvement of a state lawmaker and security personnel. The reported targeting of a child has heightened public anger and raised serious questions about the conduct of political campaigns in the state. Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Osun State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps, and Wale Akerele were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Authorities are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine those responsible for the alleged shooting.

The incident is the latest in a wave of politically motivated violence that has claimed multiple lives and left dozens injured in the run-up to the August 15 governorship election. Political violence has escalated sharply across Osun State in recent weeks, with both the ruling Accord Party and the opposition APC trading accusations of orchestrating attacks. The Imole Campaign Council for the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke has alleged that several members of the Accord Party and grassroots supporters of the governor have been killed, injured, or detained because of their political affiliation. The council recently proposed state honours for what it described as victims of electoral violence, naming Kolade Eluyera, Ezekiel Olapade, Ajayi Rogba, and Timilehin Oni among those allegedly killed. The APC, on the other hand, has accused Governor Adeleke’s allies of orchestrating the violence, dismissing allegations linking former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to the unrest as “false”. Prince Bayo Adeleke, Director-General of the Osun Central APC Governorship Campaign Council, alleged that members of the ruling camp, rather than the opposition, were responsible for the wave of attacks. He also cited the killing of the Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government, Remi Abbas, on February 17, 2025, as evidence of persistent attacks against APC members. With the election just days away, the tension in Osun State shows no sign of abating, and the latest shooting of a 12-year-old boy has further inflamed an already volatile situation. Security agencies are under pressure to conduct a transparent investigation and ensure the safety of lives and property during the campaign period and on election day.

12-Year-Old Boy Shot During APC Campaign Rally in Ilesa, Protests Erupt in Osun