As the battle for the governorship seat of the Osun State government heats up, the son of the woman leader of the Accord Party in Irewole Local Government Area, Kolade Eluyera, has been reportedly killed by gunmen.
Following the killing of Kolade, tension has reportedly heightened in the state ahead of the State governorship election scheduled for August 2026.
Confirming the development, the Osun State Police Command said a lifeless body bearing gunshot wounds was recovered in Ikire, while investigations into the incident have commenced.
Police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police had deployed additional operatives to the area to strengthen security and unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“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,” Ojelabi stated.
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However, the Imole Campaign Council, which is coordinating Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid, alleged that the attack was carried out late Friday near Onireke Mosque, Ikire, by suspected political thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued by the council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the group claimed several complaints and security alerts had earlier been submitted to security agencies over alleged intimidation and attacks against Accord Party members in the area.
“What is unfolding in Osun State is becoming dangerously alarming, condemnable, and a direct threat to constitutional democracy, public peace, and political freedom,” Olajengbesi said.
He further accused security agencies of failing to act decisively despite repeated warnings about rising political violence in the state.
The campaign council also called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to launch an independent investigation into the incident.
Reacting to the allegation, the APC Campaign Council dismissed the claims as false and politically motivated.
The co-chairman (Print), Media and Publicity Committee of the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji Governorship Election Campaign Council, Kola Olabisi, urged political actors not to politicise the tragedy.
“Loading the death of a young man… on some members of our party by the Adeleke re-election campaign council was frivolous, fabricated and a ploy to call a dog a bad name to hang it,” Olabisi said.
He maintained that violence was not associated with the APC and described the allegations against the party as baseless.
Olabisi also defended APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, describing him as “a perfect gentleman who cannot hurt a fly.”
The killing has heightened political tension in Osun ahead of the next governorship election, with renewed concerns over security and politically motivated violence in the state.
