The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the upcoming Osun State election, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s reported request for Britain to impose sanctions and visa restrictions on some APC members in the state.
Oyebamiji described the allegations of promoting political violence against APC leaders as baseless, fabricated and lacking evidence, calling them an attempt to misrepresent the situation in the state.
He made the remarks while receiving a British delegation in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Tuesday.
The APC candidate argued that if any political group had reasons to raise concerns over violence, his party would have stronger grounds based on what he described as past attacks and killings involving APC supporters.
Oyebamiji recalled incidents of violence reported during the 2022 Osun governorship election and the 2023 presidential election periods, mentioning communities including Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ikirun, Ikire and Ede.
He said the party reported the cases to security agencies and allowed investigations to continue rather than using them for political advantage.
The APC candidate also alleged that some party members had lost their lives under tragic circumstances in recent years, including the killing of the Irewole Local Government Chairman, Remi Abbas.
Oyebamiji maintained that political issues should be handled through legal and security institutions rather than through unverified claims to foreign governments or international organisations.
He praised security agencies for their efforts and reaffirmed APC’s commitment to supporting institutions responsible for maintaining peace and security.
On the upcoming Osun governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, Oyebamiji expressed confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the electoral body to ensure fairness and provide equal opportunities for all political parties.
He also highlighted the importance of the relationship between Nigeria and Britain, noting areas of cooperation including democracy, governance, trade, education, security and development.
The British delegation, led by Senior Political Advisor Wale Adebajo, said the visit was focused on promoting peace and stability ahead of the Osun governorship election.
The meeting was attended by several APC leaders and members of the party’s campaign team in Osun State.
