The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just-concluded Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has stated that there is a growing trend of hostility and violence against members of his party and supporters.

In a statement on Tuesday, Oyebamiji said the violent attacks witnessed in the build-up to the election have taken on another dimension in the last 24 hours.

He alerted the state government, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intervene and arrest the ugly trend without delay.

He then commended his supporters for the steadfastness, commitment, sacrifice, and tireless efforts throughout the election. “Your unwavering support for my candidacy and your belief in the prosperity agenda we presented to the people of Osun are experiences I will forever cherish,” he said.

“Although we had hoped for a different outcome in the election, in the meantime, we respect the position of the electoral umpire, and I totally support the decision of our party in its ongoing review of the outcome of the election. Consequently, I appreciate the many people who believed in and supported the alternative vision we articulated. I am deeply grateful to every voter who placed their trust in our vision, to the volunteers who gave their time and energy, and to you committed party members and leaders across the state who turned out to energise our campaign.”

He urged his supporters to continue to work for effective, inclusive and rapid development of Osun State. “I urge all of you who stood by our party and campaign to keep working for our community, to stay engaged, to continue to organise and to remain vigilant for the collective good of our state.”

He urged them to conduct themselves in a peaceful and calm manner as you go about your daily activities in the post-election period.

“Once again, I thank every voter, supporter, party member and leader for your unwavering commitment, sacrifice, and support. I remain proud of the campaign we ran and grateful for the confidence you reposed in me,” he said.