The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, AMBO, Movement in Osun State have traded accusations over renewed violence in Ikire, following the death of a young resident identified as Adesile Seebu.
In a statement issued by the PDP’s Director of Media, Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, on Saturday, the party expressed alarm over the distressing wave of attacks in Ikire, which allegedly culminated in the killing of Seebu.
The PDP alleged that the violence was being orchestrated by supporters of Akinkunmi Alabi, also known as Ojuyobo, a known associate of the AMBO campaign team.
According to the PDP, “Ojuyobo had previously been declared wanted during the 2023 general elections for violent activities, but had allegedly resurfaced and was involved in repeated assaults on residents.”
The party expressed concern that “Ojuyobo was recently sighted at an event in Irewole/Isokan local government area attended by Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, during which residents were reportedly harassed and injured.
“The people of Ikire have shown remarkable patience, but their safety continues to be threatened,” Bamiji stated. “We are raising a heartfelt Save-Our-Soul call on behalf of the people of Ikire. This is not about politics; this is about human life and community peace.”
The PDP called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to urgently intervene and restore calm in the town before the situation escalates further.
It also demanded that those responsible for the attacks be arrested and prosecuted.
However, the AMBO Media Fronts has dismissed the allegations as spurious and baseless, insisting that neither Bola Oyebamiji nor his campaign team had any involvement in the incident.
The group claimed that Seebu, the deceased, was a notorious and wanted thug linked to the murder of an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Remi Abass, in February 2025.
According to the AMBO statement signed by its Coordinator, Adebayo Adedeji, “Seebu had been on the run but recently resurfaced in Ikire during a road flag-off ceremony organised by the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Lere Oyewumi, a PDP member.”
It alleged that Seebu was killed during a violent clash among PDP factions over the sharing of construction materials at the project site.
“For the avoidance of doubt, today’s violence has absolutely no connection with Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji or his campaign organisation,” Adedeji said.
“The AMBO Movement had no event or activity in Ikire that could warrant the presence of its members or supporters,” the statement said.
The AMBO Media Fronts also rejected the PDP’s claims, accusing the party of attempting to divert attention from ongoing investigations into the murder of Remi Abass.
It said some PDP figures were allegedly trying to derail the prosecution of suspects currently facing trial in Abuja.
“Asiwaju Oyebamiji is a man of peace who neither harbours nor associates with criminals or thugs. Throughout his consultation tours across Osun, not a single violent incident was recorded,” it added.
The group urged the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, to conduct a thorough investigation into both the circumstances surrounding Seebu’s death and the PDP’s statement, which it described as defamatory.
It maintained that Oyebamiji’s campaign does not need any thug to win the 2026 governorship contest.