The Imole Campaign Council has accused the opposition All Progressives Congress in Osun State of coordinated political vandalism ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

According to a statement by Pelumi Olajengbesi, Spokesperson to TICC, some loyalists of the APC led by one Asiri Eniba, destroyed many campaign billboards belonging to Governor Ademola Adeleke and candidate of the ruling Accord Party.

While drawing the attention the Inspector General of Police, security agencies, civil society organisations, election observers, and the international community to what he described as “the growing pattern of politically motivated violence and coordinated vandalism currently being unleashed across Osun State by desperate elements linked to the Osun APC,” Olajengbesi explained that “in the early hours of today (Friday), billboards belonging to the Imole Campaign and the ACCORD were vandalized and destroyed across several parts of Osun State, including Irewole, Ayedaade, Ife, Irepodun, Oriade and Osogbo Local Governments.”

“We have it on good authority that this operation was coordinated by a notorious thug identified as Asiri Eniba, allegedly aided by some compromised security operatives who supervised or looked away while these criminal acts were carried out.

This development is extremely dangerous and must not be ignored.

The people of Osun State must begin to pay close attention to the desperation currently consuming the Osun APC. Having failed to inspire the people with any meaningful agenda or alternative vision for governance, and being overwhelmed by the massive acceptance Governor Ademola Adeleke continues to enjoy across the state, the APC and its operatives now appear determined to embrace intimidation, violence, destruction of opposition materials, and fear tactics as a political strategy.

This is not ordinary politics. This is a direct threat to democratic engagement, political freedom, and peaceful participation in the electoral process,” he said.

The Imole Campaign Council called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately order a full investigation into the alleged coordinated attacks and ensure that all persons involved, including their sponsors and collaborators, are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“We also call on the international community, election monitoring groups, human rights organizations, and democratic institutions to take judicial notice of the unfolding political tension and intimidation tactics being introduced into the political atmosphere of Osun State by desperate political actors.

“Osun State has remained peaceful, politically aware, and democratic. The people must not allow desperate politicians and political thugs to drag the state into avoidable tension because of personal ambition and fear of electoral rejection.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke remains focused on governance, development, and service delivery to the people of Osun State. No amount of intimidation or coordinated attacks can suppress the democratic will of the people,” the statement noted.

In its reaction, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council dismissed the allegation as false, baseless, and a desperate attempt to “hang a dog in order to give it a bad name.”

“If anything, it is the campaign billboards and promotional materials of our governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), that have suffered relentless destruction at the hands of political thugs visibly linked to the Osun State Government and its sanguinary Accord Party.

This latest falsehood, self-vandalizing billboard and turning around to blame our party, is another diversionary tactic from the coven of economic buccaneers feeding fat on the resources of Osun State, whose sole objective is to distract public attention from the monumental failures and corruption allegations trailing the Adeleke administration,” Oluremi Omowaiye, Head, Media and Publicity Committee, Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council said in a statement.