The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alleged the killing of Dele Ayegbo, nephew of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke, in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, Ayegbo was allegedly shot on Wednesday night near his residence in the Idofin area of Esa-Oke.

The party alleged that suspected political thugs linked to the Accord Party carried out the attack. Another person was reportedly shot during the incident and taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, while Ayegbo allegedly died at the scene.

The APC condemned the incident, describing it as a disturbing development coming just days before the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15.

The party called on the police and other security agencies to investigate the killing and bring anyone found responsible 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.

The APC also alleged that more than 30 of its members and supporters had been killed by political violence across Osun State since 2022, with the party claiming that 17 of the alleged deaths occurred in Ijesaland. These figures are claims made by the party and have not been independently verified.

APC Also Accuses Osun Assembly Speaker

In a separate allegation contained in the same statement, the Osun APC accused the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Wale Egbedun, of involvement in an alleged attack on the party’s House of Representatives candidate for the Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, Francis Eniade, in Okuku.

The party alleged that Eniade’s convoy was attacked while returning from Inisa and that individuals linked to the Speaker were involved.

The APC subsequently called for an investigation into the incident and demanded action against those it accused of involvement.

However, the allegations against the Speaker and the Accord Party remain allegations at this stage. The Speaker has also reportedly petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over allegations involving Eniade, illustrating the competing claims surrounding the incident.

The latest development comes amid heightened political tension in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with civil society groups also raising concerns about electoral violence and intimidation.

Security agencies are expected to investigate the incidents and establish the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks.