The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has raised concerns over alleged attacks on members and supporters of the party following the poll. Oyebamiji called on the Osun State Government, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intervene and prevent further violence in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the APC candidate said the situation had worsened in the 24 hours following the election, describing the alleged attacks on party members as a worrying development.
The call comes after the August 15 governorship election, which was won by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke. Adeleke secured 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji polled 444,815 votes, according to the declared results.
Despite the outcome, Oyebamiji said he respected the position of the electoral umpire and supported the APC's decision to review the result. He also thanked voters, party members, campaign volunteers and leaders who supported his campaign, saying their contributions remained valuable regardless of the election outcome.
The APC candidate urged his supporters to remain calm, peaceful and engaged while continuing to work for the development of their communities. However, he expressed concern that violence allegedly witnessed during the build-up to the election had taken a new dimension after the poll.
Oyebamiji therefore appealed to the police and other security agencies to act swiftly to stop what he described as a growing trend of hostility and violence against APC members and supporters.
The development comes amid wider concerns about election-related violence in Osun. The Imole Campaign Council, which backed Adeleke's re-election, has also commenced a post-election review of violence and directed its structures across the state's 30 local government areas to document victims, including people injured, families who lost loved ones and residents whose properties were damaged.
Oyebamiji's latest statement also reflects the need for calm following a closely contested election, particularly as the APC reviews the result and political tensions remain high. For residents of Osun State, attention is now shifting from the election campaign to maintaining peace and ensuring that political disagreements do not lead to further confrontation.
The APC candidate's appeal to his supporters to remain peaceful is expected to help reduce tensions while security agencies respond to allegations of post-election attacks.
As political parties consider their next steps, stakeholders will be watching closely to ensure that the post-election period remains peaceful and that residents can go about their daily activities without fear.