- petitions Tinubu to check Osun APC over rising violence, reckless threats
By John Dike, Osogbo
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has warned the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over what it described as an alarming escalation of threats, violent confrontations, and reckless utterances among its members ahead of the party’s planned primary election.
In a statement signed by its State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, the PDP expressed deep concern that the APC’s internal crisis is fast degenerating into public unrest and physical violence, posing a direct threat to the peace currently enjoyed in Osun State.
“What is happening within the Osun APC today is not about democracy or public service,” Bisi said. “It is a battle driven by desperation among politicians who have lost all sense of restraint and responsibility. Their conduct has become a threat to the peace and stability of our dear state.”
According to the PDP, the situation reflects a complete breakdown of leadership and internal discipline within the Osun APC. Hon. Bisi stated that the state government had long warned about the potential of the opposition party to become a source of crisis if left unchecked, adding that recent developments have sadly confirmed that fear.
“What we are seeing now are not political engagements, but open threats, violent outbursts, and physical attacks,” Bisi noted. “Before they turn Osun into a battlefield over selfish ambitions, we are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the national leader of the APC, to urgently call his party members in Osun to order.”
The PDP chairman cited recent violent incidents allegedly involving APC supporters in Ilesa, where rival aspirants’ followers reportedly exchanged threats in public, as well as reports of innocent residents being assaulted during a supposed local consultation in Apomu.
“These are not isolated incidents,” he said. “They point to a party that has lost control of its members. The situation is becoming a menace to public peace, and we will not stand by as custodians of the people’s mandate while innocent citizens are being attacked.”
Hon. Bisi also condemned a recent public outburst by a known supporter of one APC aspirant, who accused a rival aspirant of being an “assassin” — an allegation made without consequence or reprimand from the party leadership.
“When those who should provide leadership resort to name-calling and veiled threats through proxies, it shows how morally bankrupt their politics has become. The APC in Osun is a house in disarray, and the state must not be made to suffer for their internal battles.”
The PDP called on security agencies — including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) — to remain vigilant and take immediate, preventive measures to avert a further breakdown of law and order.
“Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has worked tirelessly to build a peaceful and inclusive Osun,” the statement added. “We will not allow a few political loose cannons to destroy that legacy. The peace and safety of Osun people must come first.”
Reaffirming the PDP’s commitment to peace, progress, and responsible governance, Hon. Bisi appealed to citizens of Osun to remain calm and law-abiding amid the rising tensions.
“Osun people value peace and unity. Governor Adeleke’s administration will continue to protect every citizen, regardless of political affiliation. But let it be clearly stated: anyone who attempts to bring violence into our state in the name of politics will face the full weight of the law.
Osun belongs to all of us — not to a handful of desperate politicians who believe power must be seized by force.”
