The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Accord have traded accusations over a shooting at a motor park in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, which left a commercial driver and a passenger dead.
The APC alleged that political thugs linked to Accord abducted and tortured one of its members, Sunkanmi Abiodun, at a motor park before attacking police officers who responded to a distress call.
Accord, however, accused the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Irewole Division, Bamidele Olatona, of opening fire on unarmed civilians.
The APC, in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, on Monday, condemned the killing of two persons and the attempted abduction of its member.
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The party alleged that Accord supporters who had fled Ikire after the killing of former Irewole Local Government Chairman Remi Abass returned to the town following the declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election.
According to the APC, “the suspected thugs had allegedly been harassing and assaulting members of the opposition party, particularly members associated with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).”
The APC claimed that the suspected thugs took over motor parks in Ikire and abducted Abiodun, taking him to one of the parks where he was allegedly tortured.
It said the DPO, Olatona, accompanied by police officers, responded to a distress call concerning the alleged abduction.
The party alleged that the hoodlums attacked the police team and seized a rifle from one of the officers, prompting the DPO to request reinforcement.
The APC said an exchange of gunfire subsequently occurred after the alleged attackers opened fire on the police, resulting in the deaths of commercial driver Saheed Akinrole, also known as Elena, and a passenger.
“We condemn the killing of the innocent persons and the abduction of our member by the Accord Party thugs,” the APC said.
The party also called on the Osun State Police Command to strengthen security in Ikire and investigate the incident, including the alleged seizure of the police firearm.
It commended Olatona for his efforts to rescue its abducted member and urged the police to arrest and investigate those responsible for the alleged violence.
However, Accord rejected the APC’s account of the incident, describing the shooting at Naira and Kobo Garage in Ikire as “barbaric, unprofessional, and unprovoked”.
In a statement signed by its Osun State Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, the party alleged that Olatona personally entered the garage and opened fire on civilians.
Accord maintained that there was no crisis or attempt by any group to take over the park when the shooting occurred, insisting that normal operations were ongoing.
The party called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Osun State Police Command and the Police Service Commission to investigate Olatona’s conduct, while demanding his arrest, psychological evaluation, dismissal and prosecution.
From Producing Nigerian Internationals to Building Their Own Stadium: Buruj Sports Academy Takes Bold Step as Ikorodu Football Dream Attracts Investors
Buruj Sports Academy is turning years of grassroots football success into an ambitious infrastructure project, unveiling a proposed stadium development in Ikorodu, Lagos State, aimed at transforming opportunities for young Nigerian footballers.
The academy, founded by Dr. Waheed Salaudeen, has presented a new development layout featuring a standard 105m × 68m football pitch, spectator stand, changing rooms, administrative and first-aid facilities, toilets, parking spaces and perimeter security.
The project represents a significant step toward establishing a permanent home for the academy’s growing football development programme.
Buruj’s ambitions are backed by its record of nurturing promising talents, including former Nigeria Under-15 internationals Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen and Fawas Ayomide Adeleke, who represented Nigeria in youth competitions in Morocco and Algeria.
The academy has also facilitated opportunities for players in Spain and Lithuania, while six Buruj youngsters recently earned selection for an international football exposure programme following the Italian Consulate General U-20 Tournament.
Unlike its earlier three-acre, 5,000-seat stadium concept, the latest architectural proposal adopts a more practical, phased approach, beginning with an approximately 80–100-seat stand and essential football facilities. Punch Newspapers +1
Dr. Salaudeen, who serves as founder and Chief Executive Officer, has consistently championed football development alongside education.
“This dream is bigger than Buruj Sports Academy alone. We are appealing to private individuals, corporate organizations, investors, and well-meaning Nigerians to support this vision.”
His appeal reflects a determination to build a sustainable sporting institution capable of serving generations of young Nigerians. Sports247 Nigeria +1
For potential investors, the project offers opportunities in stadium naming rights, facility sponsorship, youth development partnerships, football tournaments and community sports programmes.
With a survey document and proposed layout now presented, Buruj is inviting partners to help turn its vision into reality, subject to necessary technical assessments and development approvals.
From discovering football stars to building the infrastructure that produces them, Buruj Sports Academy is no longer simply dreaming of the future — it is preparing to build it.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has postponed the flag-off of its presidential campaign in Sokoto State, earlier scheduled for Saturday, October 31, to Wednesday, November 4.
The party’s Presidential Campaign Council in Sokoto State announced the postponement in a press statement issued on Wednesday, and signed by its Director-General, Bello Aliyu Goronyo.
According to the statement, the decision was taken to address certain planning and coordination issues to ensure the successful conduct of the campaign event.
The council appealed to party leaders, stakeholders, supporters and members of the public to take note of the new date, while expressing regret over any inconvenience caused by the change in schedule.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council in Sokoto State wishes to announce the postponement of its Presidential Campaign Flag-off, earlier scheduled for Saturday, 31st October 2026, to Wednesday, 4th November 2026,” the statement read.
Explaining the reason for the change, the council said, “The decision follows the need to address certain planning and coordination considerations to ensure the successful conduct of the event.”
“The Campaign Council regrets any inconvenience the change may cause and sincerely appreciates the understanding, patience and continued support of party leaders, stakeholders, supporters and members of the public,” Goronyo added.
He urged all concerned to take note of the new date and expressed the council’s readiness to welcome party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders to the event.
The postponement comes amid reports of difficulties involving hotel accommodation in Sokoto ahead of the campaign flag-off originally scheduled for Saturday.
Reports had emerged that hotel rooms were being booked ahead of the planned ADC event, with allegations that some hotel owners were refusing to release rooms to prospective guests.
The development comes as the ADC continues preparations for the 2027 general election, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
Rotimi Amaechi // Atiku Abubakar
The party is seeking to strengthen its support across the country as opposition parties prepare to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming presidential election.
The council said the timetable, which contained proposed dates and locations for campaign rallies and other political activities across the country, had not been authorised by the campaign organisation.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party clarified that the document did not originate from the council or its campaign office.
“The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has disowned an unsigned campaign timetable currently in circulation, clarifying that the document did not emanate from the Council or its campaign office,” the statement said.
Ologbondiyan urged party members and stakeholders to wait for official announcements regarding the campaign schedule.
“Accordingly, all members and stakeholders are urged to disregard the document and await official communications from the ADC-PCC on campaign activities and schedules,” he added.
The unsigned timetable listed Sokoto State as the proposed starting point for the presidential campaign on October 31, 2026, and outlined proposed activities in several other states before a closing rally scheduled for Adamawa State on January 11, 2027.
The document also contained proposed dates for rallies, town hall meetings and other political engagements in states including Kebbi, Zamfara, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano and Borno.