The Osun State APC Governorship Campaign Council has accused Senator Lere Oyewumi, Senate Deputy Minority Leader, of attempting to use a planned protest over the death of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olopade as a diversion from unresolved investigations into earlier political killings in Irewole Local Government Area.
In a statement signed by its Head of Media and Publicity Committee, Engr Oluremi Omowaiye, the council said it sympathises with the family of the deceased but insists the senator’s proposed protest is politically motivated rather than a genuine pursuit of justice.
The APC campaign body alleged that the move is aimed at shifting public attention away from ongoing investigations into the killings of two APC figures, Saheed Oyegunju and Hon. Remi Abass, both of which remain sensitive political cases in the state.
According to the council, Oyewunju, who served as APC Treasurer in Ward 9 of Irewole LGA, was abducted and later found dead in February 2023 while travelling to a presidential campaign rally in Osogbo. It claimed that lingering allegations have linked some political actors, including Oyewunju, to the circumstances surrounding his death.
It also alleged that suspects initially arrested in connection with the case were later released under unclear circumstances, raising public suspicion and concern among the victim’s family.
On the killing of former Irewole Local Government Chairman, Remi Abass, who was murdered inside the council secretariat in February 2025, the APC said reports from investigations allegedly pointed to the involvement of influential political figures during interrogations.
The council insisted that all such allegations must be subjected to a “thorough, impartial and professional investigation” without interference, adding that political influence must not obstruct justice.
It further raised concerns about a suspect identified as Jide Jọda, whom it described as being linked to one of the cases, alleging that he absconded after being granted bail and remains on the run despite being declared wanted by the police.
The APC campaign council called on Senator Oyewumi to present himself to security agencies to respond to allegations surrounding the cases, stressing that public protests cannot replace due legal process.
It also urged the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that all individuals linked to political violence in Osun State are arrested, investigated, and prosecuted, regardless of political affiliation.
Oyewumi Responds
In a swift reaction, the media office of Senator Lere Oyewunmi dismissed the allegations, insisting that the lawmaker has never been linked to any criminal investigation or invited by the police over any killing.
The statement said Oyewunmi was in Abuja attending Senate plenary on the day Remi Abass was killed, describing attempts to associate him with the incident as politically driven and misleading.
It defended his political record, stating that his career has been defined by peaceful participation in elections and rejection of violence, noting that he even accepted the outcome of a past electoral defeat without legal challenge.
The senator’s team also argued that communities in Ikire are aware of those responsible for past acts of violence, while pointing to existing law enforcement records involving some individuals mentioned in the allegations.
Reacting further, the statement criticised the Osun APC and its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, accusing them of attempting to justify or deflect attention from the killing of Ezekiel Olopade in Ilobu.
It also called for proper investigation into allegations involving political violence, use of branded vehicles, and other claims, insisting that such matters must be handled by security agencies without bias.
Both sides, however, agreed on one point: that all cases of political violence must be fully investigated and anyone found culpable should face the law, irrespective of political status or affiliation.
The exchange adds another layer to the rising political tension in Osun State, where unresolved killings, accusations, and counter-accusations continue to deepen divisions between rival camps.
