Oyebamiji
By John Dike, Osogbo
All Progressives Congress’ candidate in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to peaceful participation in the electoral process, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the international community to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
He made the call on Tuesday during an interactive session with a delegation from the British High Commission in Osogbo, where he welcomed the United Kingdom’s continued support for Nigeria’s democratic development and election observation efforts ahead of the Osun governorship poll.
Addressing the delegation, the APC flag bearer described Osun as “the State of the virtuous and the cradle of the Yoruba race,” noting that the visit by the British High Commission came at a critical period when the state is preparing for another democratic transition.
He said the presence of the British delegation reassures not only the APC but also the people of Osun State that the international community remains committed to promoting democratic ideals, transparency and good governance.
Also, he commended the United Kingdom for its longstanding partnership with Nigeria, saying the relationship between both countries has continued to flourish in the areas of democracy, governance, trade, education, security and development.
Oyebamiji expressed appreciation for the role played by the British High Commission in strengthening democratic institutions in Nigeria and sought continued cooperation if elected governor.
“Without presuming to speak on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I wish, as a proud Nigerian, to acknowledge your role and respectfully solicit your continued support and cooperation with our administration when, by the grace of God and the will of the people, it is inaugurated in November this year,” he said.
The APC governorship candidate also dismissed reports alleging that foreign missions, including the British High Commission, had been urged to impose visa restrictions on APC leaders over allegations of political violence.
Describing the reports as “entirely unfounded” and “the joke of the century,” Oyebamiji insisted that if any political party had grounds to seek international sanctions, it would have been the APC.
He recalled that several APC members were killed during the 2022 governorship election in communities including Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ikirun, Ikire and Ede.
According to him, despite being the governing party at the time, the APC resisted the temptation to politicise the incidents or level unsubstantiated accusations against political opponents.
Instead, he said the party cooperated fully with security agencies and allowed investigations to take their course, adding that many of the cases remain before the courts.
Oyebamiji further alleged that more APC members had lost their lives in politically related attacks over the past two years.
He cited the killing of the Executive Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Hon. Remi Abbas, within the premises of the local government secretariat, describing the incident as one among several tragic cases involving APC members.
“Our approach has remained consistent. We believe in allowing law enforcement agencies to investigate such matters professionally rather than attempting to mislead the public or the international community with unsubstantiated allegations,” he said
The APC candidate commended the Inspector-General of Police and officers of the Nigeria Police Force for what he described as professionalism and restraint in managing political tensions in the state.
He assured that the APC would continue to cooperate with all security agencies in maintaining peace before, during and after the governorship election.
Oyebamiji also expressed confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct a credible governorship election, urging the electoral umpire to remain impartial and ensure equal opportunities for all political parties.
“Our only appeal is that the Commission should continue to provide a level playing field for all political parties, thereby allowing the electorate to freely determine the outcome of the election,” he stated.
He stressed that the forthcoming governorship election should reflect the genuine will of the people, free from intimidation, harassment or manipulation.
The APC standard bearer reiterated his party’s commitment to democratic principles and peaceful campaigns, calling on political parties, supporters and other stakeholders to place the interest of Osun State above partisan considerations.
He also appreciated the British High Commission for its continued engagement with stakeholders in the state, expressing confidence that such interactions would further strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and deepen democratic governance ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
