Osun 2026: Adeleke campaign blasts APC, police over deadly pre-election violence 

With the high-stakes August 15, 2026 governorship election fast approaching, the re-election campaign for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has fiercely condemned a deadly wave of political violence, accusing the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating unrest and slamming the state police command for allegedly standing by while innocent citizens are suffer.

In a scathing statement released on Tuesday, campaign spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi demanded immediate intervention from the Inspector General of Police, warning that the democratic process is being heavily compromised by selective law enforcement. Olajengbesi emphasized that elections must be won through the confidence of the electorate at the ballot box rather than through systemic intimidation and bloodshed, stating that the opposition’s desperation cannot substitute for genuine public trust. He insisted that every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, must be guaranteed equal protection under the law to bring a definitive end to the growing culture of impunity in the state.

The campaign’s heavy rebuke follows a severe deterioration of safety across Osun State, marked by recent fatal clashes between rival political factions. Over the weekend, political thugs shot and killed a 14-year-old boy directly at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat. In a heartbreaking account, the deceased teenager’s father alleged that police operatives were stationed near the scene but actively watched the incident unfold without intervening to save his son. This tragedy follows an earlier shootout this month in Ile-Ife, which left one resident dead and four others seriously injured.

As fear grips local communities, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with Governor Adeleke and the opposition camp of APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji continue to trade bitter blame over who is financing and deploying the armed hoodlums. With the August polls looming, local residents and civil society groups are urging federal authorities to swiftly de-escalate the tensions and secure the state before the electoral violence spirals completely out of control.