By Paul Dada

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alleged that Dele Ayegbo, nephew of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke, in Esa-Oke, has been killed.

According to the party, Ayegbo was shot dead on Wednesday night near his residence in the Idofin area of Esa-Oke, in Obokun Local Government Area, just days before Saturday’s governorship election.

In a statement on Thursday, Osun APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi alleged that the attack was carried out by suspected political hoodlums travelling in a vehicle.

“The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the killing of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke’s nephew, Dele Ayegbo, in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Council Area of the state on Wednesday night by the hit squad of the Accord Party who have been terrorising the members and supporters of the opposition APC across the state,” the statement reads.

The statement said that Ayegbo was attacked at a road junction close to his home, adding that another APC member was also shot during the incident.

“Information has it that Ayegbo was gunned down at the road junction close to his house at the Idofin quarters area of the ancient town by the Accord Party hoodlums who were riding in a car.”

According to the party, Ayegbo died at the scene, while the second victim was taken to an undisclosed hospital after sustaining gunshot injuries.

The APC called for an immediate investigation, insisting that those behind the alleged attack must be brought to justice.

“The killing of the nephew of our campaign Director-general in Esa-Oke is one death too many which must be urgently unravelled by the police in the interest of fairness and justice,” Olabisi said.

Olabisi alleged that political violence had claimed the lives of more than 30 APC members since 2022, with Ijesaland accounting for 17 of the reported deaths.

He accused the state government of failing to adequately condemn attacks allegedly directed at APC members.

“A common observation has been that whenever our members were killed, the self-acclaimed chief security officer of the state would not condemn the killing which gives credence to his approval of the rampant extra-judicial killings of our members and supporters in the state,” Olabisi further claimed.

He alleged that the attacks were intended to discourage APC supporters from participating in the election.

“The purpose is to scare away our members and supporters from exercising their civic responsibility on Saturday,” he said.

The allegation has further heightened political tensions in Osun ahead of Saturday’s poll, amid an increasingly bitter contest between the APC and supporters of the incumbent governor, who is seeking another term on the Accord platform.