By Olusesan Laoye
With just three months to the August 2026 governorship election, tension has continued to rise in Osun State, as the two rivals political parties of the Accord, now in power and the the All Progressives Congress (APC), engaged in both war of words and physical assaults.,
Their actions have called for a serious warning to both parties not to breach the peace of the state from the Osun State police command, saying that any action of vandalism, thuggry and other vices, would not be looked at, with levity.
In the last two months, since both parties have nominated their candidates, with the incumbent, who crossed from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party (AP), to secure the party’s mandate for his second term, and Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, for the APC, there have been what appear to be an unending aggressions from the two camps, over the coming election and as to who will be elected next by the people.
From all the indications on ground, both parties have been looking at the election as a real war, with the determination to win at the polls..
Their actions have been causing serious apprehension, in the state, which to some extent, have also been telling much on the security, of lives and properties.
Political Tension
With the political tensions heightening daily, as the date of the election moves closer, there is palpable fear and uncertainty from the people across the state.
What is even now worrisome, is the the acts of vandalism, character assassination, levelling of trump up charges and allegations, which in some cases, allegedly, led to prosecutions and detentions of some people, who claimed to be innocent to what was described as planned accusations.
The issue going on now, which has led to serious accusations and counter accusations from both parties, is the destruction and vandalisations of Bill Boards and posters.
The Accord Party is claiming that it’s the one badly affected and it has kept on accusing the APC of deliberately after the party, and planning to grap power at all cost.
The Accord Party also indicated that several Bill Boards of it’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke are being defaced and some completely vandalised across the cities in Osun State, with particular reference to those destroyed in Osogbo the state capital, Ile-Ife, Ikirun and Ikire axis, the home base of APC candidate Oyebamiji, the arch rival of Adeleke of the Accord party.
On the other hand, the opposition APC claimed that they had no hand in the vandalisation of Gov. Ademola’s Bill Boards and posters, and that they knew nothing about members of the Accord Party allegedly framed up trump up charges that led to their arrests.
Dirty Politics
The political situation in the State is getting worst, Madam Abike Omojola, a member of the Accord Party in Irewole Local government of Osun State, who spoke with the Business Hallmark at a function in Osogbo, when she was asked to comment on the political situation in the State.
According to her, “the APC is proving that they have the backing of the Federal government and that is why they think they can do what they like. Whether they like it or not Gov. Adeleke would do a second term.”
However a member of the APC in Ede South Local governmemt, who spoke to the Business Hallmark on condition of anonymity, said “though I am in the same town with the Incumbent Gov. Adeleke, there was no basis in the allegations against the APC. He said that, what those in Adeleke’s camp refused to realise is that things have changed even in Ede, the home town of the governor, as more people are now allegning and embracing the APC, unlike before when “we all put our eggs in one basket. We can no longer be fooled,” he argued.
However, getting to the crux of the whole matter tearing the state apart, the Adeleke’s camp, which first raised the alarm of vandalisation, intimidation and humiliation of their members across the state, through the Imole Campaign Council accused the opposition All Progressives Congress saying, that their brutality against them was a coordinated political game, planned to discourage and confuse the people of the state, ahead of the August 15 2026, governorship election and also to create fear in them because they know that the loving people of Osun State are generally for Gov. Ademola Adeleke.
Pelumi Olajengbesi, the spokes person of the Adeleke Campaign Committeee (TICC), alleged that some loyalists of the APC led by one Asiri Eniba, were behind the destructions of many campaign billboards belonging to Gov. Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the ruling Accord Party.
Finger Pointing
He pointed out that they have already notified the Inspector General of Police, security agencies, civil society organisations, election observers, and the international community concerning, “the growing pattern of politically motivated violence and coordinated vandalism currently being unleashed across Osun State by desperate elements linked to the Osun APC,”
He explained that on many instances, they discovered that , billboards belonging to the Imole Campaign and the ACCORD were vandalized and destroyed across several parts of Osun State, including, Irewole, Ayedaade, Ife, Irepodun, Oriade, Ede and Osogbo Local Governments.”
“We have it on good authority that this operation was coordinated by a notorious thug identified as Asiri Eniba, allegedly aided by some compromised security operatives, who supervised or looked away while these criminal acts were carried out.”
He emphasised that “this development is extremely dangerous and must not be ignored. The people of Osun State must begin to pay close attention to the desperation currently consuming the Osun APC, having failed to inspire the people with any meaningful agenda or alternative vision for governance, and being overwhelmed by the massive acceptance Gov. Ademola Adeleke continues to enjoy across the state, the APC and its operatives now appear determined to embrace intimidation, violence, destruction of opposition materials, and fear tactics as a political strategy.”
“This is not ordinary politics. This is a direct threat to democratic engagement, political freedom, and peaceful participation in the electoral process,” he said.
Olajengbesi however, said that the Imole Campaign Council had called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately order a full investigation into the alleged coordinated attacks and ensure that all persons involved, including their sponsors and collaborators, are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
But the opposition APC too,
reacted through its own Governorship Campaign Council, which dismissed the allegation as false, baseless, and a desperate attempt to “to give a dog a bad name in other to hang it.”
Accoding to Oluremi Omowaiye, Head, Media and Publicity Committee, Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council, “If anything, it is the campaign billboards and promotional materials of our governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), that have suffered relentless destruction at the hands of political thugs visibly linked to the Osun State Government and its sanguinary Accord Party.”
“This latest falsehood, self-vandalizing billboard and turning around to blame our party, is another diversionary tactic from the coven of economic buccaneers feeding fat on the resources of Osun State, whose sole objective is to distract public attention from the monumental failures and corruption allegations trailing the Adeleke administration,”
As the accusations and counter accusations continue amongst the two parties, and to forestall, what could lead to further violence, which could be inimical to the peace of the State, the Osun State Command has intervened in the matter, calling those involved to embrace peace, and not to escalate the already tensed atmosphere in the state.
Official Response
The State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan in a stern warning against the vandalization of campaign materials stated that the police have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators and warned that anyone caught will face the full weight of the law.
Also the regulatory body in charge of the state Signage,
Hoarding and Advertisement Agency (O’Signage) has condemned the destruction of both government and political symbols, warning that such actions threaten public peace.
Two prominient personalities of the Accord Party, who spoke with Business Hallmark remarked that the political situation in the State called for great and urgent concern for the coming election to go peacefully.
Hon. Bamidele Salami, who is currently a member of the House of Representatives, said vandalism and attacks on the members of the Accord Party, where he is seeking a third term should stop.
He said this is the time that the state must enjoy peace and the people should be allowed to enjoy the good work of Gov. Adeleke.
He pointed put that this is the period that Nigeria as a nation needs sober reflection and not to give room for political tension that could mar the electoral process and democracy.
He warned that seeking electoral positions, should not be a game of do or die affairs but must be pursued with love and the interest of the people at heart, saying that the way the APC is going about their ambition to take over osun state, by fire by force, should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians, stakeholders, in both political and economic circles, traditional rulers and community leaders.
“According to him, the goodness of Osun State, is what should be the paramount concern of all of us and not desperation about how to rule by force at the expense of the people”
He said he was happy that the police has actually stepped into the vandalisation matter and hope that proper investigations on it, would thoroughly be carried out.
Also in the same vein, a Chieftain of the Accord party in Osun East Senatorial District, Samuel Oyedotun condemned the attacks, arguing that Nigeria has gone beyond brigandage, thugry and vandalisation.
He said getting to power should not be by force but through the mandate of the people
Meanwhile in a latest development on the political situation in Osun State Governor Adeleke raised an alarm, saying that some disgruntled elements are planning to destabilise motor parks across the state, directing the Commissioner of Police to take immediate action to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, stated that the governor was informed that certain individuals linked to opposition groups were planning to invade motor parks in various local government areas across the state.
Governor Adeleke described the alleged move as a deliberate attempt to create chaos and undermine the prevailing peace in Osun.