A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has said the party does not need to engage in violence to win the August 15 governorship election, stressing that violence does not secure electoral victory.

Oyintiloye also described claims linking the party and its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to rising political violence in the state as the handiwork of desperate politicians.

Oyintiloye, former lawmaker made the remark while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo.

He said neither the party nor its candidate has any connection with individuals or groups allegedly using APC’s name to perpetrate violence and create unrest in the state.

According to him, the APC is founded on the timeless Omoluabi ethos, which upholds integrity, discipline, humility, honesty, respect, compassion, justice, accountability and selfless service.”

The APC chieftain condemned the killing of innocent residents for political purposes, describing those responsible as people with “dead conscience.”

He further said, “The APC is a party of peace and has nothing to do with the allegations of violence against it.

“We condemn every form of violence, lawlessness and bloodshed, irrespective of the status of those involved. No political ambition or partisan interest is worth the loss of a human life. We urge those perpetrating these acts to desist.”

Oyintiloye added that, as a progressive party, “the APC remains committed to peaceful coexistence, inclusiveness, tolerance, mutual respect, constructive engagement and people-centred leadership that prioritises the welfare, security and prosperity of citizens.

He maintained that the progressive family has never embraced violence or intimidation as a means of political engagement.

He insisted that the APC has dissociated itself completely from any individual or group hiding under its name to perpetrate violence, create unrest, intimidate citizens or disrupt public peace in any part of the state.

Oyintiloye emphasised that the party believes in the democratic process, the rule of law and the sovereign right of the people to freely choose their leaders through peaceful and credible elections.

He warned that “anyone who seeks to cause mayhem, sponsor violence or use the APC’s name to justify criminal acts is acting in personal interest and should not be identified with the party.”

He said such conduct is “inconsistent with the APC’s long-established culture of moderation, civility and responsible political participation.”

Oyintiloye subsequently called on party members, political actors, security agencies and the general public to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, while allowing relevant authorities to investigate all incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.

He reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to democracy, peace, justice and the protection of lives and property, urging all stakeholders to prioritise the unity, stability and development of Osun State above political considerations.

Sympathising with the families of victims of extrajudicial killings and other acts of violence in the state, he prayed that God grants them the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Taraba state aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed its claim as the authentic leadership of the party in the state.
The state chairman of the faction, Ibrahim Abba Sale, made the declaration at the weekend while presenting certificates of return to the group’s 24 candidates for the Taraba State House of Assembly ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Sale maintained that the faction remains the legitimate leadership of the PDP in Taraba, stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, monitored the party’s primary elections that produced its candidates.

He urged the candidates to remain committed to pursuing their mandates through the democratic process, noting that the faction has successfully fielded candidates for all 24 State House of Assembly seats, six House of Representatives constituencies, and the governorship election, with Senator Emmanuel Bwacha emerging as its governorship candidate.

The chairman also took a swipe at the administration of governor Agbu Kefas, accusing it of failing to deliver the expected democratic dividends to the people.

He appealed to voters across the state to support the PDP in the forthcoming elections. The development comes amid the lingering leadership dispute within the PDP in Taraba State.

The candidates presented belong to the Wike-aligned faction, which continues to lay claim to the party’s structure in the state despite the ongoing internal crisis.

Special Adviser Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, has declared that nobody in the current administration is afraid of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Dare insisted that Obi was a threat and a nightmare but currently Tinubu’s administration is not afraid of him.

Featuring on the latest edition of Mic On Podcast, the presidential aide noted that Tinubu’s administration is standing on a solid ground of performance.

He said: “This government is not afraid of Peter Obi, the same right he has to ask Tinubu to resign is the same right the government has to respond to him that the president will not resign, there is no basis or reason for the president to resign.

“The right that the government has to educate to say that you need to go back to school, we run a presidential system, we have elections every four years and not just for the president but for the Senate and House of Representatives.

“That’s where you can go back for the citizens, so nobody is afraid of Peter Obi.

“He is not a nightmare, maybe before, Peter Obi was a threat, but right now, Peter Obi is no threat because we stand on solid ground of performance.

“We are able to interrogate the problems of this country. Peter Obi will not defeat President Tinubu in Lagos again.”