Fresh political tension gripped Osun State on Tuesday as Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council traded blame over violent clashes that left at least three persons injured in different parts of the state.
The unrest reportedly began in Ile-Ife during a mobilisation walk organised by the APC in support of its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The procession, led by the lawmaker representing Ife Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abimbola Ajilesoro, started from the Mayfair area of Ile-Ife and later turned violent around the Sabo axis.
Sources said the disturbance was allegedly sparked after campaign posters belonging to a governorship candidate were torn down along the route.
Eyewitnesses claimed that suspected political thugs engaged one another with dangerous weapons during the confrontation.
A trader at the Sabo market, who identified himself simply as Usira, said the clash involved rival groups believed to be loyal to different political parties.
According to him, a motorcycle belonging to one of the groups was vandalised, while gunshots and machetes were reportedly used during the violence.
The tension later spread to parts of Osogbo, including Owode-Ede, Aregbesola area, Olaiya, Old Garage, Oke Fia and Aisu, where residents reportedly fled for safety after hearing gunshots.
An elderly man was said to have sustained injuries during the shooting in Owode-Ede and was rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for treatment.
In a separate incident, a commercial bus driver reportedly suffered a gunshot wound in the Aregbesola area and was taken to a hospital.
At Testing Ground in Osogbo, security personnel were seen at a business facility owned by APC chieftain Lawrence Dada, who alleged that soldiers invaded the premises, looted valuables and arrested two workers.
Reacting to the incidents, Governor Adeleke described the attacks as coordinated assaults allegedly carried out by political thugs loyal to the opposition.
After visiting some of the injured victims at hospitals in Osogbo and Ede, the governor condemned the violence and accused certain APC leaders of escalating political tension in the state.
He further alleged that the attackers moved through several communities in a convoy branded with campaign materials and operated without intervention from security agencies.
The Osun APC Campaign Council, however, rejected the allegations and instead accused supporters loyal to the governor of orchestrating the attacks.
In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Director, Remi Omowaiye, the council claimed that several supporters of its governorship candidate were attacked and campaign vehicles vandalised in Owode-Ede.
The party described the violence as a threat to democratic values and urged security agencies to protect citizens regardless of political affiliation.
Also reacting, the African Democratic Congress accused suspected APC supporters of attacking its campaign office in Osogbo and firing shots in the vicinity before moving to other parts of the town.
ADC spokesperson, Oluwaseun Abosede, alleged that armed men invaded strategic locations across Osogbo, causing panic among residents and damaging property.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command said it had commenced an investigation into the incidents.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that the command was aware of the disturbances and assured residents that efforts were underway to uncover those responsible.