Tension Rises as APC Reports Campaign DG’s Nephew Killed in Esa-Oke

By Our Reporter

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alleged that Dele Ayegbo, nephew of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke, was shot dead in Esa-Oke ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said Ayegbo was killed on Wednesday night in the Idofin area of Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area.
According to Olabisi, Ayegbo was attacked near his residence by gunmen who arrived in a vehicle. He said two people were shot during the incident, with Ayegbo dying at the scene, while another victim sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The APC spokesperson alleged that supporters of the Accord Party carried out the attack, claiming that its members had been repeatedly targeted across the state.
Olabisi said Ayegbo was allegedly gunned down at a road junction close to his residence in the Idofin quarters area of the ancient town by suspected Accord Party supporters riding in a car.
“The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the killing of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke’s nephew, Dele Ayegbo, in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Council Area of the state on Wednesday night by the hit squad of the Accord Party who have been terrorising the members and supporters of the opposition APC across the state,” Olabisi said.
He called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, describing the killing as a grave development.
“The killing of the nephew of our campaign Director-general in Esa-Oke is one death too many which must be urgently unravelled by the police in the interest of fairness and justice,” he said.
The APC spokesperson further claimed that more than 30 party members had been killed by political thugs since 2022, alleging that 17 of the deaths occurred in Ijesaland.
He urged security agencies to strengthen security measures ahead of the election, alleging that the latest attack was aimed at discouraging APC supporters from participating in Saturday’s poll.
“The purpose is to scare away our members and supporters from exercising their civic responsibility on Saturday,” Olabisi said.
The allegation comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with rival political camps trading accusations over violence and intimidation.
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command had not confirmed the alleged killing. Efforts to obtain a response from the command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, were unsuccessful.