Osun 2026: Adeleke Laments Violence, Says He Nearly Boycotted Peace Accord

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said he almost boycotted the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of the 2026 governorship election, citing what he described as a wave of violence, killings and arrests targeting members of his party over the past three months.

The governor, however, said he attended the event in Osogbo out of respect for the National Peace Committee and its members despite his reservations.

Speaking on Wednesday at the ceremony organised by the National Peace Committee, Adeleke alleged that the opposition and security agencies had subjected his administration and party members to sustained attacks in the run-up to the election.

“I should have boycotted this peace meeting because of the violence unleashed on Osun State in the last few months, on the directive of Gboyega Oyetola. However, my presence is due to my very deep respect for our peace leaders here present,” the governor said.

Adeleke further alleged that the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was acting in concert with the police against his supporters.

“War is being waged actively against my people by Osun APC openly supported by the Osun State Police Command,” he alleged.

The governor claimed that eight members of his party had been killed in the last three months, while more than 20 others sustained gunshot injuries.

According to him, no arrests or prosecutions had been made despite what he described as the identities of the perpetrators being known.

“In the last three months, we have lost eight party members with more than 20 injured in gun attacks. There is no single prosecution or active arrest till date. The perpetrators are known Osun APC thugs with crimes committed in the presence of the police,” Adeleke said.

He also alleged that more than 60 members of the Accord Party were being detained by the police without being charged to court.

The governor further claimed that the Secretary to the State Government was arrested and detained overnight after his residence was searched without a court-authorised warrant.

He added that more than 60 Accord leaders, including a House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Alaba, had been transferred to Abuja and remanded in correctional facilities in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.

Appealing to the National Peace Committee, Adeleke urged its members to intervene with the Inspector-General of Police to facilitate the release of those in custody.

“On behalf of Osun State and for the sake of the rule of law, I ask the Peace Committee to prevail upon the Inspector General of Police to return everyone in police custody,” he said.

Responding, member of the National Peace Committee, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, assured the governor that the concerns raised at the event would be communicated to the appropriate authorities.

According to him, the committee would forward the issues to the police and other security agencies for necessary attention.

The Peace Accord signing was attended by retired Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, who represented the committee’s chairman and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto; Cardinal Onaiyekan; Rev. Attah Barkindo; Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN); and Assistant Inspector-General of Police Fasuba Olabode, representing the Inspector-General of Police.

Candidates of several political parties signed the accord, including Adeleke of the Accord Party; Olarewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance (AA); Esan Olajide of the African Action Congress (AAC); Salaam Najeem of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Adeagbo Opawoye of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Adeyemi-Doro Adesina of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Adebayo Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Adesuyi Clement of the Action People’s Party (APP); Adeleke Adesoji of the Boot Party (BP); Adeleke Taofeek of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Ogunsakin Enoch of the Young Progressives Party (YPP); and Adesuyi Olufemi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, was absent from the event.