…Says APC Has Greater Grounds to Raise Concerns Over Political Violence
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has dismissed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s reported call on the British Government to impose visa restrictions and economic sanctions on APC leaders over alleged political violence, describing the request as baseless and reflective of what he termed the ruling party’s growing anxiety ahead of the poll.
Speaking yesterday while receiving a delegation from the British High Commission in Osogbo, Oyebamiji argued that the APC, rather than the governing Accord administration, had suffered greater political violence over the years and therefore had stronger grounds to complain if it chose to do so.
He alleged that several APC members were killed in different parts of Osun, including Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ikirun, Ikire and Ede, before the 2022 governorship election, stressing that the incidents were officially reported to the Nigeria Police Force and that some of the cases remain before the courts.
The APC standard-bearer maintained that despite the losses, the party refrained from politicising the incidents or seeking to draw the international community into domestic political disagreements, opting instead to allow security agencies to carry out investigations.
He also alleged that attacks on APC members had continued under the current administration, citing the killing of Irewole Local Government Chairman, Hon. Remi Abbas, as one of several incidents he said underscored the need for impartial security investigations rather than political accusations.
Oyebamiji commended the Nigeria Police Force for its professionalism and reaffirmed the APC‘s commitment to cooperating with all security agencies to ensure a peaceful, free and credible governorship election.
Expressing confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he said the electoral body has the capacity to conduct a transparent poll, urging it to maintain a level playing field for all contestants.
The APC candidate also reaffirmed the importance of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, noting that both countries have continued to collaborate in the areas of democratic governance, trade, education, security and development. He expressed optimism that such cooperation would continue beyond the election.
Earlier, the leader of the British delegation and Senior Political Adviser, Mr Wale Adebajo, explained that the visit was part of the High Commission’s consultations with major political stakeholders as part of efforts to promote peaceful conduct before, during and after the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Among those present at the meeting were the APC deputy governorship candidate, Engr. Benjamin Kayode Adereti, Osun APC Chairman; Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly; Hon. Timothy Owoeye, Director-General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council; Hon. Oluwole Oke, and other leaders of the party.
Source: Politics Archives – New Telegraph
