Fresh political tension has erupted in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election following allegations and counter-allegations between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party over the destruction of campaign billboards across parts of the state.
The Imole Campaign Council, which is coordinating the re-election campaign of Governor Ademola Adeleke, accused suspected hoodlums allegedly linked to the APC of vandalising campaign billboards belonging to the governor’s political camp and the Accord Party.
The council claimed that several campaign materials were destroyed in Irewole, Ayedaade, Irepodun, and Osogbo local government areas.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the campaign council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the group alleged that the attacks were carried out with the support of compromised security personnel.
The statement further described the incident as part of an alleged pattern of politically motivated attacks targeted at opposition campaign structures in the state.
According to the council, the destruction of campaign materials poses a threat to peaceful political participation and democratic engagement ahead of the governorship poll.
The group therefore called on security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, to investigate the matter and bring those responsible to justice.
The campaign organisation also accused the APC of allegedly resorting to intimidation and destruction of opposition materials due to its inability to present what it described as a convincing alternative agenda to Osun residents.
Despite the development, the council maintained that Governor Adeleke remains focused on governance and service delivery.
Reacting to the allegations, the APC Governorship Campaign Council dismissed the claims and denied any involvement in the vandalism.
The Head of the Media and Publicity Committee of the council, Oluremi Omowaiye, described the accusation as false and politically motivated.
Omowaiye alleged that campaign materials belonging to the APC governorship candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, had also been repeatedly vandalised by suspected thugs allegedly linked to the ruling camp.
He accused the Adeleke administration and its allies of engaging in self-vandalism in an attempt to attract public sympathy and shift attention from criticisms surrounding governance in the state.
The APC spokesperson further alleged that the ruling administration was facing public scrutiny over issues relating to ecological funds and local government allocations.
Omowaiye, however, stated that the APC would remain focused on its campaign activities and would not be distracted by what he described as propaganda ahead of the election.
