The Osun State governorship campaign atmosphere intensified on Friday as the governorship campaign councils of the two major political parties exchanged allegations over unresolved political killings, with both calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

In separate statements issued during the visit of the Inspector-General of Police to Osun State on Friday, the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council urged the police chief to ensure the arrest of suspects declared wanted in connection with the killings of its members, while the Imole Campaign Council (ICC), representing the Accord Party, called for investigations into alleged killings involving APC members and demanded the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.

The APC Campaign Council, in a statement signed by its Head of Media and Publicity Committee, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, welcomed the Inspector-General of Police and expressed confidence in his commitment to professionalism, justice and the rule of law.

According to the council, “the police should intensify efforts to apprehend all persons declared wanted over alleged violent crimes and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

The APC campaign also requested a comprehensive review of unresolved murder cases involving its members since 2022, alleging that several party chieftains and supporters were killed in separate incidents across the state.

It appealed for a thorough investigation into the recent alleged attempted assassination of its Director-General, Hon. Oluwole Oke.

The council specifically called for “the immediate arrest of Olalekan Oyeyemi, also known as Emir Ajagungbade, Nurudeen Wakili, also known as Nurudeen Alawonle, Solomon Adefioye, also known as Solo Iwara, and Jide Joda. They had been declared wanted by the police in connection with various killings involving APC members.”

It also urged the Inspector-General to investigate allegations linking Senate Minority Leader Lere Oyewumi to the murders of APC chieftains Saheed Oyegunju and Remi Abass, as well as claims that he allegedly interfered with police investigations.

The council called on the police to “follow all credible leads and evidence without interference.”

“The Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council remains committed to peace, democracy and the rule of law. We urge all our members and supporters to remain peaceful and continue to cooperate with security agencies as they discharge their constitutional responsibilities.”

Responding in its own statement, the Imole Campaign Council expressed concern over recent developments involving policing and security management in Osun State, arguing that public confidence in law enforcement should be protected.

The council, through its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that unresolved killings involving Accord members also deserved investigation.

It listed several people who have lost their lives in separate incidents of political violence and urged the Inspector-General to ensure that all cases were thoroughly investigated.

The Imole Campaign Council also called for the redeployment of Osun State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, arguing that a new police commissioner whose neutrality would inspire public confidence should be appointed ahead of the governorship election.

“This call is not made out of hostility toward any individual but in the overriding interest of restoring public trust in policing within Osun State. Confidence in law enforcement is indispensable to peaceful elections, political stability and effective crime fighting,” the statement said.

The council urged the Inspector-General to investigate APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, Wole Oke and Engr. Remi Omowaiye over separate allegations relating to the killings of Accord members, while also seeking the arrest of several individuals it alleged were involved in violent attacks in parts of the state.

The council, while urging its supporters to remain law-abiding, avoid inflammatory conduct and cooperate with lawful security operations, maintained that it remained committed to peaceful political engagement before, during and after the August 15 governorship election.

Ogba Oghenevewogaga, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Friday declared that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is afraid of the opposition.

Oghenevewogaga warned that under the leadership of its National Chairman, David Mark and presidential candidate, Atiku Abiubakar, the ADC would wax stronger, adding that APC’s fears would come to past in 2027.

In an interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central, the ADC chieftain accused the APC of sponsoring the crisis in the opposition party.

According to Oghenevewogaga: “Whatever you see the ADC going through is being sponsored by the APC and we the Nigerian people will not allow it, the leadership of David Mark will not allow it. The ADC is here to stay for Nigerians and as a matter of fact, we are the only opposition in Nigeria and that is what the ApC is afraid of.

“The APC is afraid of the ADC because they know that if we go into the 2027 general election, they will be defeated. Nigerians are angry, they need an alternative and the ADC is here.”

While making reference to the Firs Lady, Remi Tinubu’s comment that she would empower Nigerian youths to fry Akara and roast corn, the ADC chieftain said the APC is determined to impoverish Nigerians.

He added: “Some days ago, we heard the First Lady saying that she wants to empower people to fry Akara and to do Kulikuli. Who are these people she wants to give those grants to? The person who can fry Akara is the Akara seller, the person who can fry Kulikuli is a Kulikuli seller. So you want the daughter or son of an Akara seller to continue frying Akara.

“This is what the APC wants and it has been fighting because it wants to continue improvising in impoverishing Nigerians and that is why the ADC as a party is saying no this is not what we want.

“Awolowo said he doesn’t want the son of his driver or his cook to be the driver or cook to his own children, this are leaders. How can a First Lady come out and say she wants to empower people to start frying Akara and kulikuli? These are things that the ADC will never do when we take power in 2027.

“They want Nigerians to continue dying of suffering, starvation, and insecurity while bringing up useless policies and that is why they are in court using many other means. Under the leadership of David Mark and Atiku Abubakar, the ADC will keep waxing stronger.”

The governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State, Arthur Jarvis, has alleged that the administration of Governor Bassey Otu is planning a fresh clampdown on him and his privately owned university.

Jarvis claimed the government had already targeted his running mate, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, by marking his residence within the Water Board area of Calabar for demolition, warning that he could be the next target.

“They are coming after me. When they finish with Eba, I’m next,” he told journalists in Calabar, linking an ongoing tax audit of his university to the controversy surrounding the proposed demolition exercise.

The PDP flagbearer accused the state government of deploying tax authorities to intimidate him because of his opposition politics.

“The taxes of our university are up to date,” he said, insisting the institution had fully complied with its tax obligations and describing the audit as “funny” and “insulting.”

According to him, unlike some states that provide grants and infrastructure support to private universities, his institution has received neither financial assistance nor improvements to its access roads. 

He also alleged that repeated requests for a courtesy visit to Governor Otu by the University management since the administration came into office had gone unanswered.

The opposition candidate further alleged that the planned demolition of his running mate’s property formed part of what he described as an attempt to weaken the opposition, warning the government against escalating political tensions.

However, the Cross River State Government has denied any political motive behind the demolition notices, or attempt to muzzle Jarvis.

The government said the demolition exercise is part of efforts to rehabilitate the state’s water infrastructure under a World Bank-backed project and affects 39 structures built on major underground water pipelines, not Eba’s property alone. 

Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba, and Commissioner for Information Erasmus Ekpang maintained that the exercise was driven by public interest, stressing that properties belonging to other prominent individuals and government facilities were also affected.