An APC supporter, Ayegbo Oluwadele, has been killed while another party member was critically injured in a shooting in Osun State.
The incident has heightened fears of further political violence as the state prepares for Saturday’s governorship election.
Oluwadele was reportedly shot around the Oluwole Oka family compound in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area.
Another APC supporter identified as Taiwo Oluwadele was also hit by gunfire during the attack. He was said to be in critical condition.
Ayegbo was the nephew of Busayo Oluwole Oke, the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council and a member of the House of Representatives.
The police confirmed that a person was killed in the incident. However, the command said it could not immediately provide details on what led to the shooting.
Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the death when contacted but declined to comment further on the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Meanwhile, the APC Campaign Council accused rival political groups of targeting its supporters across the state.
Its spokesperson, Oluremi Omowaye, described the latest incident as another setback for efforts to maintain peace before the election.
“Another of our members is now fighting for his life after the attack, while Ayegbo has lost his life,” Omowaye said.
He further claimed that the APC had recorded several attacks on its members in different parts of Osun in the build-up to the election.
Omowaye also alleged that a separate attack in Ilesa days earlier left five people wounded, with four reportedly dying from their injuries.
According to him, the victims were allegedly targeted because they were wearing APC-branded caps.
He further named Idowu Laide, Ebuke Emmanuel and Adebiyi Ebeneezer as APC members allegedly attacked in Atakumasa East Local Government Area.
Another APC chieftain, Kehinde Ayantunji, alleged that political violence had also spread to Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
Ayantunji accused a senior member of the Osun State House of Assembly of attacking APC supporters and alleged that the party’s House of Representatives candidate, Francis Eniade, was also assaulted near the Okuku Divisional Police Station.
The allegations have, however, been rejected by the Osun State Government.
Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, denied claims that members of the Accord Party were responsible for attacks on APC supporters.
The latest shooting has added to growing concerns about the security situation ahead of the Osun governorship election, with political parties trading accusations over violence.
Authorities are expected to intensify security measures across the state as voters prepare to cast their ballots on Saturday.