Gunmen have killed Kolade Eluyera, son of the women leader of the Accord Party in Irewole LGA of Osun state.
The incident occurred on Friday night near Onireke Mosque in Ikire, where the deceased was attacked and shot dead.
His body was later recovered with gunshot wounds.
The development has triggered a blame game between the campaign organisations of Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, and Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state.
Reacting to the matter, Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the Imole campaign council of Adeleke, alleged that the killing was carried out by suspected thugs linked to the APC.
He claimed that several prior complaints and intelligence reports about threats, harassment, and attacks on Accord Party members in the area had been lodged with security agencies without any decisive action.
“This disturbing development occurred after several complaints, security reports and intelligence alerts had earlier been lodged… yet no visible preventive or decisive law enforcement action was taken,” Olajengbesi said.
He accused opposition elements of fuelling political tension in the state.
However, Kola Olabisi, co-chairman (print) of the media and publicity committee of the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji governorship election campaign council, dismissed the allegation as baseless.
He urged the police to be allowed to conduct an impartial investigation without political interference.
Abiodun Ojelabi, spokesperson of the Osun state police command, confirmed the incident, adding that the lifeless body of the deceased was recovered in Ikire with gunshot wounds.
He added that investigations are ongoing and the commissioner of police has deployed more personnel to the area to restore calm and apprehend the perpetrators.
The killing comes amid heightened political activities in Osun ahead of the governorship election.
