Gunmen Kill Son of Osun Accord Women Leader Ahead of Governorship Poll

Tension has heightened in Osun State following the killing of Kolade Eluyera, son of the women leader of the Accord Party in Irewole Local Government Area, amid rising political activities ahead of the state governorship election.

Eluyera was reportedly attacked by gunmen on Friday night near Onireke Mosque in Ikire and shot dead by his assailants.

Residents said his body was later recovered with multiple gunshot wounds, throwing the community into panic.

The incident has since triggered accusations and counter-accusations between supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the governorship campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Reacting to the killing, spokesperson for Adeleke’s Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that suspected political thugs linked to the APC were responsible for the attack.

According to him, several complaints and intelligence reports concerning threats and intimidation against Accord Party members in the area had previously been reported to security agencies without prompt intervention.

“This disturbing development occurred after several complaints, security reports and intelligence alerts had earlier been lodged, yet no visible preventive or decisive law enforcement action was taken,” Olajengbesi said.

He accused opposition figures of escalating political tension in the state ahead of the governorship election.

However, co-chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji Governorship Campaign Council, Kola Olabisi, dismissed the allegation as unfounded.

Olabisi urged security agencies to be allowed to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the killing without political interference.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident, saying the victim’s body was recovered in Ikire with gunshot injuries.

He disclosed that investigation had commenced while the Commissioner of Police had deployed additional personnel to the area to maintain calm and apprehend those behind the attack.

The killing comes at a period of intense political mobilisation in Osun State as parties prepare for the August 15 governorship election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).