Adeleke Campaign Council Protests Release of APC Assembly Candidate Arrested with Gun in Osun

The Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has strongly condemned the controversial release of Babatunde Festus Komolafe, an All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate who was arrested by Nigerian Navy personnel after a gun was allegedly discovered in his vehicle — an incident that has heightened political tensions just two days before the state’s governorship election .

Komolafe, popularly known as BFK and the APC candidate for the Atakumosa East/West State Constituency, was apprehended on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in his hometown of Ifewara, Osun State . According to the campaign council, the arrest occurred during a routine search by naval personnel, who allegedly discovered an unauthorised firearm inside an APC campaign vehicle in which Komolafe and his supporters were travelling .

The arrest was no secret, as a video showing the suspects subsequently went viral on social media and attracted significant public outrage . However, the council alleged that Komolafe and his co-travellers were released shortly after their arrest due to pressure from senior APC figures .

“We gathered reliably that the arrested APC candidate and his co-perpetrators were immediately released following pressure from APC top goons,” the statement read . The council further claimed that a news outlet chronicled how the naval officer in charge “was forced to release the suspects and asked to step aside” .

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Despite its criticism of the release, the Imole Campaign Council commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Navy, for their professionalism and neutrality since the commencement of the governorship election campaigns . The council noted that security personnel have been proactive in arresting suspected troublemakers regardless of party affiliation .

The council, however, insisted that releasing a suspect allegedly found with an unauthorised firearm was dangerous and unacceptable . “It sends the wrong signal to political criminals whose pastime is killing and maiming,” the statement declared .

The group linked the incident to what it described as the APC’s antecedents in Osun State, alleging that just two weeks earlier, police had attacked military personnel to rescue five APC hoodlums, including the notorious APC thug Asiri Eniba, who had been arrested by the Nigerian Navy for shooting sporadically in Ile-Ife with pump-action guns .

The campaign council called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to intervene in the matter, investigate what it described as a “grave injustice,” and ensure that the suspects face the law . “No politician is above the law, and no political thug should be released to keep fomenting trouble,” it concluded .

The incident comes just two days before the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, heightening political tensions in the state . The reported arrest of Komolafe and his subsequent release have raised concerns among political parties and civil society groups about security and political interference ahead of the crucial poll .

The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness had earlier raised the alarm over a deteriorating security situation in Osun, alleging that approximately 40 people had been killed in pre-election-related violence . The council also specifically accused some political actors of importing thugs and individuals impersonating security personnel into parts of Ijeshaland ahead of the election .

Additionally, the Council of the Wise of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, had warned against violence ahead of the election and called on security agencies to ensure a free, fair, transparent and credible election . The council expressed grave concern over reports of loss of human lives and urged thorough investigations and prosecution of perpetrators .

Adeleke Campaign Council Protests Release of APC Assembly Candidate Arrested with Gun in Osun

Omo-Agege Escapes Assassination Attempt in Usiefrun, Six NDC Members Injured

Former Deputy President of the 9th Senate and Delta Central Senatorial candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has alleged that he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Usiefrun, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Thursday, August 13, 2026 — an incident he describes as part of a “well-orchestrated campaign of violence” ahead of the 2027 elections. The former lawmaker claimed that armed men affiliated with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori opened fire on his delegation during a ward-to-ward consultation, injuring six NDC members. Omo-Agege stated that the attack also targeted the NDC Governorship Candidate, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, and other party leaders.

“Yesterday, Thursday, August 13, 2026, armed men affiliated with the Governor of Delta State attempted to take my life in Usiefrun. Thankfully, by God’s grace, they failed,” Omo-Agege said in a press release issued on Friday, August 14.

According to Omo-Agege, six NDC members sustained injuries in the shooting. He identified four of them as Mr. Believe Biadoyo, Mr. Joshua Oghenetega Oyibocha, Owhos Peter, and Ojiyovwin Dennis.

The Senator alleged that eyewitness accounts and video evidence identified the alleged masterminds as Hon. Simon Mudi, also known as “TEMPLE,” a Protocol Officer to Governor Oborevwori; Mr. Flash Oghenetega Origbon; Mr. Ochuko Origbon; and Mr. Alex Awherhurho. He further alleged that all four individuals are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State.

Omo-Agege linked Thursday’s incident to two earlier attacks he had flagged on July 29 — an alleged assault on Hon. Temple Mudi at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, and an attack on Deacon Chris Iyovwaye in Agholokpe. He described the sequence of events as part of a coordinated campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

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“On July 29, I raised the alarm about the rising violence in Delta. It was no longer a series of isolated incidents. Today, that warning has come to pass,” he stated. “Agholokpe happened. Effurun happened. Now Usiefrun. This is a pattern. Our warning has become evidence,” he added.

Significantly, the political tensions had already drawn an official response days before the Usiefrun incident. On August 11, 2026 — just two days before the alleged Usiefrun attack — the Delta State Government suspended the Commissioner for Works (Highway and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, indefinitely over allegations linking him to the assault on Simon Mudi at PTI, Effurun. The state government announced the suspension in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, saying it was “to enable the security agencies to carry out an unbiased investigation of allegations associating him with the assault on the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Mr Simon Mudi.” A High Court sitting in Effurun had earlier remanded the embattled commissioner for 14 days over the alleged attack on Temple.

Omo-Agege seized on this development, noting the irony that Hon. Temple Mudi, who was earlier reported as a victim in Effurun, has now been named as a mastermind in Usiefrun.

The NDC candidate called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute the named individuals immediately. He also demanded that the Delta State Government suspend any appointee linked to the attack and urged security agencies to investigate the Agholokpe, Effurun, and Usiefrun cases as connected events.

Omo-Agege gave Governor Oborevwori 48 hours to publicly condemn the attack and ensure arrests, warning that “silence will be seen as complicity.” He also appealed to INEC, civil society organisations, and the international community to deploy observers to Delta Central, which he described as “unsafe” ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, in a swift reaction, Mr. Simon Mudi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Protocol, debunked the allegations, describing them as “malicious and baseless.” Speaking via telephone on Friday, August 14, Mudi challenged the Senator to produce the video evidence he allegedly referenced on his Facebook page and insisted that no such incident occurred. Mudi made it clear that he is presently receiving medical treatment in Asaba and could not possibly have been present at Usiefrun at the time of the alleged attack. He questioned how Omo-Agege and his associates could claim to have sighted him at the location when he was confined to the state capital for health reasons. He further clarified his identity and origins, stating firmly that he is an indigene of Ekakpamre community and has no residential or ancestral connection to Usiefrun, contrary to the senator’s assertion.

In a scathing assessment of the senator’s motives, Temple accused Omo-Agege of premature political desperation. He said the senator was already “wailing ahead of his looming failure” in the 2027 general elections, describing the outburst as both premature and revealing of deep insecurity. Temple predicted that Omo-Agege would suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of Senator Ede Dafinone, advising him to wait until after the polls before issuing such complaints.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from Governor Oborevwori’s office or the Delta State Government on the Usiefrun allegations. Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement confirming or denying the reported attack.

Despite the attack, Omo-Agege said the NDC would continue its ward-to-ward engagements. He urged his supporters not to retaliate, stating: “We refuse to be intimidated or silenced. Do not retaliate. Do not live in fear. Violence will not stop us. We will win on our ideas and our record, because Delta deserves capable leadership.” He concluded: “On July 29, I called it ‘a shame.’ Today, it is an assassination attempt and an assault on our democracy. Enough is enough.”

Omo-Agege Escapes Assassination Attempt in Usiefrun, Six NDC Members Injured

Osun Election: APM, PDP Candidates Withdraw, Endorse Governor Adeleke

With less than 48 hours to go before voters in Osun State head to the polls, two governorship candidates have withdrawn from Saturday’s election and thrown their weight behind the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke. The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adebayo Simon Adewale, announced his withdrawal from the race at a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, directing members of his party and his supporters across the state to vote for Governor Adeleke, who is contesting on the platform of the Accord Party. Adewale said his decision followed “deep reflection and extensive consultation” with party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders, and he stressed that the move was not influenced by pressure or personal interest but by what he described as the need to place the interest of Osun State above personal ambition.

Adewale explained that after assessing the political situation in the state, he believed Governor Adeleke deserved another term to consolidate what he described as the achievements of his administration. “Having carefully assessed the situation, I believe Governor Adeleke deserves another term to consolidate the progress his administration has recorded,” Adewale said. The APM candidate subsequently declared his full support for the governor’s re-election and called on his supporters, APM members and residents of Osun State to back Adeleke at the poll. He emphasized that his decision was ultimately about the future of the state rather than his political ambition, stating, “This decision is about the future of Osun. Politics should always serve the people, and today I have chosen the path that I believe will best advance peace, stability, development and the collective interest of our state.”

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In a separate development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Adedamola Adebayo, popularly known as Fryo, also announced his withdrawal from the election and endorsed Governor Adeleke. Adebayo made the declaration during a press briefing in Osogbo, where he explained that his decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders and a careful assessment of the political situation in the state. He stressed that his priority was the broader interest of Osun State rather than personal political ambition. “I encourage all PDP members, supporters and structure to share this position peacefully. Support the emergence of Ademola Adeleke as the governor till 2030,” he said.

The withdrawals come just hours before the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the PDP. The main contenders in the race include Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The APGA candidate, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro, had earlier withdrawn from the race and endorsed Oyebamiji, creating a complex web of political realignments as various candidates and parties position themselves for the contest.

The APM had earlier built its campaign around Adewale, with the party also attracting political support from sections of the PDP. The withdrawal represents a significant shift in the political landscape, as Adewale’s decision to back Adeleke effectively dissolves the APM’s challenge to the incumbent. This development comes after former Osun governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola had earlier announced his support for the APM candidate, Adewale Adebayo, ahead of the August election. Oyinlola had rejected claims of a PDP-Accord arrangement in the state and said the political structure he was working with had aligned with the APM. “This is a movement that combines APM and PDP. We form an alliance to present a formidable force for the forthcoming elections,” Oyinlola had said.

However, it is worth noting that the political landscape remains competitive. A faction of the Accord Party, led by Chris Imumolen, has reportedly withdrawn its support for Adeleke and endorsed the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. This development highlights the internal divisions within political parties and the fluid nature of political alliances in the run-up to the election. The faction’s decision to back the APC candidate further complicates the electoral calculus and underscores the intense competition between the major political forces in the state.

The last-minute realignments, though significant politically, are not likely to affect the number of candidates on the ballot, which INEC has already designed for the election. The withdrawals and endorsements reflect the strategic calculations of political actors seeking to maximize their influence and position themselves for the post-election landscape. As voters prepare to cast their ballots on Saturday, the shifting alliances and political maneuverings underscore the high stakes involved in the Osun State governorship election.

Osun Election: APM, PDP Candidates Withdraw, Endorse Governor Adeleke