The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Accord Party and some lawmakers in the National and State Assemblies of spreading false allegations against the opposition party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement released on Friday by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC described recent allegations linking the party, its governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and former governor Adegboyega Oyetola to violence and political misconduct as baseless and fabricated.
The party alleged that the claims were part of attempts by political opponents to sway public opinion as political campaigns intensify across Osun State.
Rejecting reports of attacks on political opponents and allegations that vehicles were being branded with Accord Party insignia to stir unrest, the APC urged the public to disregard what it called misleading accusations against the party and its leadership.
The APC further claimed that its rivals had consistently blamed the party and its leaders for incidents occurring during political activities in the state.
According to the statement, the party’s governorship candidate, popularly known as AMBO, remains committed to a peaceful and lawful campaign strategy ahead of the election.
“Oyebamiji, who is a man of peace, does not need to engage in violence before he records victory in the election,” the statement read.
The opposition party also expressed confidence in its chances at the forthcoming poll, insisting that its political mobilisation and campaign structure had placed it in a strong position ahead of the contest.
While criticising the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, the APC argued that growing dissatisfaction among residents could shape the outcome of the election.
The party also alleged that the accusations against it were aimed at diverting attention from internal challenges facing rival political groups and gaining public sympathy.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful political activities, the APC stated that it would never adopt violence as a means of achieving political success and urged residents to remain vigilant throughout the election period.
The reaction followed a press briefing held on Friday by lawmakers in the Accord Party, where they called for the immediate redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, over alleged partisanship.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, also accused the APC of allegedly orchestrating violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Backstory…
The Osun State political atmosphere has continued to intensify ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with parties engaging in mutual accusations over alleged violence and misconduct during campaign activities.
In recent weeks, there has been growing tension between the ruling and opposition parties in the state, with claims and counterclaims emerging over incidents linked to political gatherings and campaign movements across different local government areas.
The Accord Party, alongside some lawmakers in the National and State Assemblies, had earlier raised concerns about alleged attacks on its members and accused the opposition APC of involvement in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process. The party also called for the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, citing concerns over alleged partisanship.
However, the APC has consistently denied these allegations, insisting that they are politically motivated and aimed at damaging its image as campaigning gathers momentum. The party maintains that it remains committed to a peaceful campaign and has continued to promote its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, as focused on issue-based politics.
Against this backdrop of rising political rivalry, both parties have continued to trade accusations, reflecting the heightened stakes and competitive nature of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
