ADELEKE SEEKS VISA BAN, SANCTIONS AGAINST OSUN APC CHIEFTAINS OVER ALLEGED POLITICAL VIOLENCE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for economic sanctions and visa restrictions against some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state over alleged sponsorship of political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke made the call during a meeting with a British diplomatic delegation led by Senior Political Adviser, Wale Adebajo, according to a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

The governor alleged that five members of the Accord Party had been killed, while 15 others sustained critical injuries in attacks allegedly carried out by suspected APC thugs since the commencement of the 2026 election campaigns.

He urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attacks, including their alleged sponsors, insisting that political violence must not be tolerated.

“I believe we must have a deterrent against those promoting political violence. We seek visa bans against politicians sponsoring killings and violent attacks. We advocate similar sanctions against security chiefs aiding and abetting such anti-democratic activities,” Adeleke said.

“Election is not about bloodshed. Osun deserves the peace and freedom to make their choice about who governs them. There must be consequences for those deliberately endangering the lives of our people for selfish political gains,” he added.

Responding, Adebajo said the British delegation was in Osun as part of pre-election peace-building efforts in collaboration with other partners.

He reaffirmed the British government’s support for a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process, assuring that the delegation would engage all relevant stakeholders to promote a peaceful atmosphere ahead of the poll.

Meanwhile, the Osun APC dismissed the governor’s allegations, accusing him of misleading the British delegation.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, the opposition party challenged Adeleke to provide evidence linking its leaders to political violence.

“If we may ask, which court or commission of inquiry indicted APC chieftains as being responsible for aiding and abetting political violence in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election?” Olabisi queried.

He alleged that the governor was shielding suspected political hoodlums from arrest and claimed that members of the APC were victims of political violence before the 2022 governorship election.

Olabisi further alleged that some of Adeleke’s aides were currently facing trial over the killing of a former chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Remi Abass.

He urged the British delegation to disregard the governor’s allegations, describing them as false and politically motivated.