Federal Lawmaker Denies Role in Osun Political Assassination
Oluwole Oke, a member of Nigeria's House of Representatives, has categorically denied allegations that he and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were involved in the assassination of Accord Party member Ajayi Aderogba, popularly known as Rogba. The denial comes amid heightened political tensions in Osun state ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
According to a report by The Punch on Wednesday, June 24, Aderogba was shot dead on Tuesday evening, June 23, in Esa Oke, Obokun local government area (LGA) of Osun state. The incident occurred during preparations for a political rally in support of Governor Ademola Adeleke's second-term bid.
Accusations and Response
Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Accord candidate for Oriade/Obokun federal constituency for the 2027 elections, had, in a statement posted on his Facebook account, accused the serving federal lawmaker of being behind the attack that led to Aderogba's murder. Olajengbesi's post directly linked Oke and the APC to the killing.
Reacting, Oke, who also serves as the director-general (DG) of the APC Osun state governorship campaign council, dismissed the allegations as baseless. Through a statement by his media aide, Tunde Omolebi-Sunday, Oke described attempts to link him and the APC to the politically-motivated killing as false.
Oke Criticizes Olajengbesi for Premature Allegations
Oke criticized Olajengbesi for making what he described as unverified allegations before the conclusion of investigations. The statement read: “Such conclusions, made without any credible investigation or report from security agencies, are not only premature but deeply irresponsible. As a legal practitioner, he ought to understand the primacy of evidence, due process, and responsible public communication.”
Furthermore, Oke maintained that neither he nor the APC had any connection with the incident and called for an impartial investigation by security agencies. He urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions and allow the authorities to conduct a thorough probe.
Context of Political Violence in Osun
The 2026 Osun state governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, amid growing concerns over political violence. Several politically-motivated killings have been recorded in recent months, raising alarms about the security situation in the state. In a related incident, Legit.ng reported that political hoodlums shot dead a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, near the entrance of the Irepodun LGA secretariat in Ilobu, Osun state. The tragic incident occurred near a palm wine joint owned by the deceased's mother. An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Olapade was not the intended target of the attack.
These incidents underscore the volatile political climate in Osun state as parties gear up for the upcoming governorship election. The Accord Party, APC, and other political groups have been urged to caution their supporters and avoid actions that could lead to further violence.
