A supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esa-Oke in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Ayegbo Oluwadele, was yesterday gunned down and another was shot. The incident added to the growing concerns over violence ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state Oluwadele was said to have been shot dead around the Oluwole Oka family compound in Esa-Oke. Another APC supporter, Taiwo Oluwadele, was also shot during the incident and was said to be in critical condition. Ayegbo was the nephew of the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Busayo Oluwole Oke, who is a member of the House of Representatives. The Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the killing when contacted by our correspondent. He, however, declined comment on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council, Oluremi Omowaye, confirmed the attack, disclosing that members of rival political parties were behind the violence against APC supporters in different parts of the state. “Unfortunately, we lost Ayegbo Oluwadele. Another member of our party; while Taiwo is still in a very critical condition. “It is sad that we are being killed while the governor is playing the victim’s card. As I speak, we have lost about 40 of our members, and nothing has been done to stop this. “A few days ago in Ilesha, it was alleged that one of the prisoners released by the government was responsible for the killing in Ilesha. “Five people were shot. Four of them died, while one is in critical condition at the Teaching Hospital. One of them is still in the ICU. And what was their offence? They were putting on APC caps.” He listed three other APC members whom he said were also attacked in Atakumasa East Local Government Area as Idowu Laide, Ebuke Emmanuel, Adebiyi Ebeneezer. A chieftain of the APC, Mr Kehinde Ayantunji, also accused a leading member the state House of Assembly of attacking APC members in Odo-Otin Local Government area of the state and on the House of Representatives candidate of the party, Francis Eniade, in front of Okuku Divisional Police Station, you can see the effrontery.” He also alleged that five people were shot in Ilesa a few days ago, with four of them dying while one remained in critical condition at a teaching hospital. According to him, the victims were allegedly attacked because they were wearing APC caps. Omowaye further alleged that three APC members in Atakumasa East Local Government Area – Idowu Laide, Ebuke Emmanuel and Adebiyi Ebeneezer – were also attacked. However, the Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, denied the allegation that members of the Accord Party attacked APC supporters. NBA confirms 29 deaths in 73 attacks The president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, also appealed to security personnel deployed for Saturday’s election to remain neutral and perform their statutory duties without favouring any political party. Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo yesterday, Osigwe said security personnel should protect INEC officials, voters and other participants in the electoral process. He said the election should produce an outcome capable of restoring confidence in the electoral process and disproving predictions of violence. Osigwe said available data indicated that about 73 election-related violence incidents had been reported; while about 29 people had been killed between May and July. “Many policemen, civil defence, correctional officers, NDLEA and other paramedics and soldiers have been deployed to Osun State. While we appreciate the work they are doing and the work they are statutorily required to do, we will also use this opportunity to plead with them to be neutral. “They should only carry out their statutory duties and not use their presence to aid any party, but to ensure the security of the INEC officials and every other person, voters and every person who has a role to play in the electoral process. The whole world is watching,” he stated. He said the spate of attacks recorded in the build-up to the election is worrisome, urging political gladiators to put an end to the violence. “Recent incidents in the state made it imperative that we start this election observation earlier than Saturday. Statistics show that there were about 73 reported election violence-related incidents. “Also, one report has reported a death toll of about 29 between May and July. “And there has been more violence, which appears to have intensified. Unfortunately, there have been threats issued by some people. So there is a need for us to use this opportunity not only to speak against violence, but to urge those who, by their actions, will incite violence. “From all the feedback and all the reports we have got, the violence that has taken place in Osun State and which is related to this election is not spontaneous. They are
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