Bola Oyebamiji, the governorship candidate of the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged the British High Commission and the international community to closely follow the August 15, 2026, governorship election, expressing worries about reported political violence and intimidation in the state.
During a courtesy visit by a delegation from the British High Commission to the APC Campaign Office in Osogbo on Tuesday, Oyebamiji stated that international observation will help enhance public confidence in the voting process.
Oyebamiji claimed that members and supporters of the APC have been exposed to politically motivated attacks since 2022, and that the occurrences have caused worry ahead of the governorship race.
He said, “The Campaign Council is deeply concerned about the escalating atmosphere of political violence, intimidation and thuggery targeted at members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress by individuals associated with the Osun State Government and Governor Ademola Adeleke.”
He stated that the party had raised its concerns to the Nigeria Police and encouraged security authorities to conduct thorough, unbiased, and professional investigations into any claims of political violence in conformity with Federal Republic of Nigeria legislation.
Oyebamiji added that the party’s records showed that more than 40 APC members and sympathisers had allegedly been victims of politically motivated violence in various parts of Osun State since 2022.
The APC candidate cited a number of events, including the assassinations of party members and supporters in Osogbo, Ota Efun, Ilesa, Irewole, and Otan Ayegbaju, as well as the suspected kidnapping and murder of an APC ward treasurer during the 2023 presidential campaign.
He also claimed that certain individuals associated to the occurrences had been proclaimed wanted by police or accused of involvement in the attacks, and he called for all ongoing cases to be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the laws.
In an appeal to the British High Commission and other international observers, Oyebamiji stated that “sustained election observation before, during, and after the governorship poll would contribute to ensuring a credible, peaceful, and transparent election in Osun State.”
“We respectfully appeal to the British High Commission and other members of the international community to continue paying close attention to developments in Osun State before, during and after the election.”
He restated the APC Campaign Council’s commitment to democratic ideals, constitutional government, and peaceful political engagement, and stated that party members had been ordered to follow the law and cooperate with security authorities despite the apparent problems.
The APC governorship candidate thanked the British High Commission for its visit and expressed hope that the combined efforts of election stakeholders, security agencies, and observers would ensure that eligible voters could exercise their constitutional rights freely and without fear, intimidation, or violence.
The British High Commission delegation paid a visit to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Monday, during which he called for economic sanctions and visa bans on various political leaders accused of aiding and abetting political violence ahead of his state’s governorship election on August 15.