Osun poll: Imole Campaign Council Seeks State Honours For Victims Of Election Violence

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has proposed that victims of alleged election-related violence and killings in Osun State be honoured by the state government, saying those affected made sacrifices in support of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council alleged that several members of the Accord Party and grassroots supporters of the governor had been killed, injured, abducted or detained in recent months because of their political affiliation.

The council listed Kolade Eluyera, who it said was killed in Ikire on May 8, 2026; Ezekiel Olapade, allegedly murdered in Ilobu on June 21; and Ajayi Rogba, whose life it said was cut short in Esa-Oke on June 23. It also alleged that Timilehin Oni was killed last month by thugs it claimed were loyal to the opposition.

According to the statement, other supporters, including Asimiyu Ajibola, Samuel Saliu, Taofeek Saka, Lawal Habeeb, Adeyemi Toheeb, Monday Fidelis, Ramoni Kamolideen, Kamar Aola and John Matthew, were either killed or sustained injuries during the period.

The campaign council further alleged that more than 100 of Governor Adeleke’s campaign coordinators and supporters had been arrested and detained by the police in recent weeks in what it described as an attempt to weaken grassroots mobilisation ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The council condemned what it described as the assassination, intimidation and persecution of its members and called on the Nigeria Police Force to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of its duties.

It accused the police of allowing themselves to be used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to harass political opponents, an allegation for which the APC and the police had not responded as of the time of filing this report.

While acknowledging that no compensation could adequately repay the sacrifices of those affected, the council said it believed victims of the alleged attacks deserved formal recognition through state honours.

“Their sacrifices are not in vain,” the statement read, adding that details of the proposed honours would be announced at a later date.