The Imole Campaign Council has accused the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State of orchestrating coordinated political vandalism ahead of the August 15 governorship election. In a statement by Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the council, loyalists of the APC, led by one Asiri Eniba, allegedly destroyed numerous campaign billboards belonging to Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is the candidate of the ruling Accord Party.
Details of the Alleged Vandalism
Olajengbesi drew the attention of the Inspector General of Police, security agencies, civil society organizations, election observers, and the international community to what he described as a growing pattern of politically motivated violence. He explained that in the early hours of Friday, billboards belonging to the Imole Campaign and the Accord Party were vandalized across several local government areas, including Irewole, Ayedaade, Ife, Irepodun, Oriade, and Osogbo.
“We have it on good authority that this operation was coordinated by a notorious thug identified as Asiri Eniba, allegedly aided by some compromised security operatives who supervised or looked away while these criminal acts were carried out,” Olajengbesi stated. He emphasized that this development is extremely dangerous and must not be ignored.
Political Context
The council accused the APC of resorting to intimidation and violence due to their lack of a meaningful agenda and the overwhelming public support for Governor Adeleke. “Having failed to inspire the people with any meaningful agenda or alternative vision for governance, and being overwhelmed by the massive acceptance Governor Ademola Adeleke continues to enjoy across the state, the APC and its operatives now appear determined to embrace intimidation, violence, destruction of opposition materials, and fear tactics as a political strategy,” Olajengbesi said.
He called this a direct threat to democratic engagement, political freedom, and peaceful participation in the electoral process.
Call for Investigation
The Imole Campaign Council urged the Inspector General of Police to order a full investigation into the alleged coordinated attacks and ensure that all persons involved, including sponsors and collaborators, are identified and prosecuted. They also called on the international community, election monitoring groups, human rights organizations, and democratic institutions to take judicial notice of the unfolding political tension.
“Osun State has remained peaceful, politically aware, and democratic. The people must not allow desperate politicians and political thugs to drag the state into avoidable tension because of personal ambition and fear of electoral rejection,” the statement noted. It reaffirmed that Governor Adeleke remains focused on governance and development, and no amount of intimidation can suppress the democratic will of the people.
APC's Response
In response, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council dismissed the allegations as false and baseless. Oluremi Omowaiye, Head of Media and Publicity, accused the ruling party of self-vandalizing its own billboards to blame the APC. He claimed that the campaign materials of their candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), have suffered relentless destruction at the hands of political thugs linked to the Osun State Government and the Accord Party.
“This latest falsehood, self-vandalizing billboard and turning around to blame our party, is another diversionary tactic from the coven of economic buccaneers feeding fat on the resources of Osun State, whose sole objective is to distract public attention from the monumental failures and corruption allegations trailing the Adeleke administration,” Omowaiye said.
