Gunmen kill Osun Accord Party women leader’s son

The tragic killing of Kolade Eluyera, son of the Irewole Accord Party Women Leader, has cast a dark shadow over the political landscape of Osun State. The Imole Campaign Council, spearheading Governor Ademola Adeleke's re-election bid, has vehemently demanded a thorough probe into the incident, which occurred late Friday near Onireke Mosque in Ikire.

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Investigation is on and the Commissioner of Police has deployed more men to the area. We are working with those who brought the corpse to get more information.

While the state police have confirmed the recovery of a lifeless body bearing gunshot wounds and have initiated an investigation, the Accord Party, through its campaign council spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi, has pointed fingers directly at suspected thugs affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC). Olajengbesi alleged that the attack followed numerous prior complaints and security alerts regarding kidnapping, abduction, and violent intimidation targeting Accord Party members in the Irewole Local Government, lamenting the perceived lack of decisive law enforcement action.

This allegation has been swiftly dismissed by the APC's governorship election campaign council, with Kola Olabisi urging that the police be allowed to conduct their investigation without prejudice. However, Olajengbesi insisted on the severity of the situation, describing it as "dangerously alarming" and a direct threat to democracy and public peace. He highlighted a pattern of alleged "politically motivated violence" and expressed serious concerns over the slow response from security agencies, which he claims is creating significant legal, moral, and security issues for residents and stakeholders.

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What is unfolding in Osun State is becoming dangerously alarming, condemnable, and a direct threat to constitutional democracy, public peace, and political freedom.

From our perspective at The Punch, this incident underscores the volatile nature of political competition in Nigeria, particularly in states like Osun where elections are often fiercely contested. The accusations and counter-accusations between the ruling party's campaign and the opposition highlight a deep-seated mistrust and the potential for violence. The demand for a probe is crucial, but the effectiveness of such investigations is often a point of contention. The narrative pushed by the Imole Council also frames the alleged APC actions as stemming from frustration over their perceived rejection by the Osun populace, contrasting it with Governor Adeleke's administration's "visible performance and people-oriented governance."

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We understand that the growing frustration within the Osun APC stems largely from the overwhelming rejection the party continues to suffer among the people of Osun State, having failed completely to present any convincing alternative programme, credible policy direction, or meaningful governance blueprint capable of inspiring public confidence.