By John Dike, Osogbo
Political tension ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election intensified on Monday as Governor Ademola Adeleke and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) traded accusations over political violence and the role of the international community in ensuring a peaceful poll.
The disagreement followed Governor Adeleke’s call for the international community to deploy foreign election observers and impose visa bans as well as economic sanctions on politicians and security officials found culpable of sponsoring electoral violence.
The governor made the appeal while receiving a delegation from the British Government in Osogbo during a pre-election peace-building visit aimed at engaging key stakeholders ahead of the governorship election.
Adeleke alleged that some opposition leaders were sponsoring violent attacks through their supporters, resulting in the deaths and injuries of members of the Accord Party since election campaigns began.
He said politics should never degenerate into violence, stressing that those threatening the peace and stability of Osun State must face both local and international consequences.
“I believe we must have a deterrent against those promoting political violence. We seek visa bans against politicians sponsoring killings and violent attacks. We advocate similar sanctions against security chiefs aiding and abetting such anti-democratic activities,” the governor said.
Reiterating his administration’s zero-tolerance policy on political violence, Adeleke maintained that security agencies should arrest anyone found culpable, irrespective of political affiliation.
“I have zero tolerance for violence. I have told the Inspector-General of Police that if my son is involved, he should be arrested. We harbour no thugs anywhere, and the police can and should arrest any suspect. There must be strict law enforcement,” he added.
The governor’s remarks came amid reports of another political killing involving an Accord Party member in Ijebu-Jesa. He alleged that five Accord members had been killed while 15 others sustained serious injuries in attacks allegedly carried out by suspected APC supporters since the commencement of campaigns.
Responding on behalf of the British delegation, Senior Political Adviser, Wale Adebajo, said the visit underscored the United Kingdom’s commitment, alongside other international development partners, to supporting peaceful, credible and transparent elections in Osun State.
He said the delegation would continue to engage political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders to promote peace before, during and after the election.
However, the Osun State chapter of the APC dismissed the governor’s allegations, accusing him of attempting to mislead the British delegation and divert attention from what it described as his administration’s role in political violence.
In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC alleged that Governor Adeleke sought visa bans and economic sanctions against former Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola; Senator Francis Fadahunsi; the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO); the Director-General of the AMBO Campaign Council, Hon. Wole Oke; and other APC leaders over allegations of sponsoring violence.
The opposition party described the governor’s request as baseless, arguing that none of the individuals mentioned had been indicted by any court of law or commission of inquiry.
The APC further accused Adeleke of harbouring political thugs within the Government House and alleged that some of his aides were currently facing trial over the killing of APC chieftain and former Irewole Local Government Chairman, Hon. Remi Abass.
The party also claimed that four of its members were killed in Ilesa last month by suspected Accord Party supporters and urged the British delegation to disregard what it termed the governor’s “false accusations.”
The latest exchange highlights the deepening political rivalry between the ruling Accord Party and the APC as the August 15 governorship election approaches, with both parties accusing each other of sponsoring violence while calling for credible security arrangements to guarantee a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
