The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun engaged in a war of words on Monday following the alleged killings of three individuals amid a power struggle over local government control.
Two of the victims were killed in Iragbiji, located in the Boripe Local Government Area, while another was killed in Irewole Local Government Area.
The killings have sparked growing tensions in the state, largely related to the recent Court of Appeal ruling concerning the removal of APC council chairmen and councillors.
The PDP contended that the February 10 ruling from the Court of Appeal in Akure did not reinstate the APC officials, who had been ousted in 2022.
In contrast, the APC insisted that the ruling called for the return of those officials.
Korede Ajeigbe, Osun’s commissioner for government affairs and protocol, spoke to the media in Iragbiji, claiming that two PDP members were killed while attempting to prevent APC members from taking over a local government secretariat.
Ajeigbe also reported that six PDP members were injured and are receiving medical treatment.
However, the APC accused PDP members of attacking its own while trying to enforce the Court of Appeal’s decision.
During a news conference in Osogbo, APC chieftain Bayo Adeleke alleged that one of the party’s prominent members had been killed in the violence.
He also claimed that another APC member, Remi Omowaye, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Ilesa.
Adeleke, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, called on the state government to resolve the matter by allowing APC chairmen and councillors to resume their duties.
Another APC leader, Jamiu Olawumi, stated that APC chairmen had already resumed work in 15 local government areas, although this claim could not be independently verified at the time.
Police spokesperson, CSP Yemisi Opalola, stated that she had not yet been briefed on the killings but confirmed that security personnel had been deployed to all local government secretariats to maintain peace.
In response to the escalating violence, Governor Ademola Adeleke directed that both workers and politicians stay away from the local government secretariats to prevent further bloodshed. Only security agents will be allowed to monitor the areas.
Governor Adeleke also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims affected by the violence.
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