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.

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.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has disowned Mr Abayomi Hunye, who claims to be its Ogun governorship candidate for the 2027 election, describing him as an imposter.

The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said Senator Adeola Olamilekan remains the APC governorship candidate in the state.

“Hunye is not a member of the APC; in good standing, he was suspended from the party on April 7, 2026; he is an imposter currently on suspension,” he said.

He added that Hunye’s suspension was not arbitrary, but followed a petition from his Tube Ward in Ipokia Local Government Area.

Basiru further stated that his suspension was driven by a grassroots decision, executive ratification and formal approval by the party’s State Working Committee.

“His suspension was ratified by the Ogun State Working Committee and communicated to the national headquarters.

“His recent self-declaration as the governorship candidate of our party for the 2027 election is completely false, unauthorised, and a mischievous act aimed at misleading the public,” he said.

Basiru listed the reasons adduced for his suspension to include: engaging in activities injurious to the party’s image, anti-party activities and deliberate actions aimed at causing disaffection and division among loyal members.

“Consequently, he lacks the legal and moral standing to represent the APC in any capacity.

“We reiterate that following the validly conducted primary election of the APC, the duly nominated and elected governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election is Senator Adeola Olamilekan, with his running mate being Balogun Abiodun.

“This is in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026 and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,” the APC national secretary said.

He said that the names and other particulars of Olamilekan and his running mate, Abiodun, had been successfully uploaded onto INEC’s portal.

The APC national secretary said that the commission had issued official acknowledgement slips confirming the duo as the duly recognised APC candidates for the Ogun 2027 governorship election.

“Any person, group or organisation that associates, collaborates or transacts any political business with Hunye under the guise of the APC does so at their own risk.

“The party will not be held liable for any financial loss, legal disputes or criminal liability that may arise from such dealings,” he said.

Basiru urged party supporters to remain calm, law-abiding and ignore any provocation from detractors aimed at disrupting the peace of the state.

He implored all concerned to contact the APC national secretariat through the office of its national secretary for clarification and official updates.