Four members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reportedly been shot in Ilesa, Osun State, in a fresh incident of political violence ahead of the State’s governorship election.
The latest shooting occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, while the APC members were preparing for a campaign rally in the Ilesa area.
According to reports, the attackers were alleged to be political thugs associated with the Accord Party, the platform on which Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election.
The identities of those responsible for the shooting have not been independently established, while the conditions of the four victims remained unknown at the time of the report.
The incident has further heightened concerns over the security situation in Osun State as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the governorship election scheduled for August 15.
Ilesa has recently emerged as one of the areas where political tension between supporters of the APC and Accord Party has generated security concerns.
The latest development also comes against the background of an earlier confrontation involving APC supporters in Ilesa, during which the opposition Party accused political actors and security personnel of attacking its campaign activities.
The APC Osun Governorship Campaign Council had previously alleged that its campaign procession in Ilesa West was disrupted by gunfire.
In its account of that incident, the Campaign Council accused the Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Akerele, and personnel of the Amotekun Corps of opening fire on members of the Party during a campaign procession.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the Council’s Head of Media and Publicity Committee, Oluremi Omowaiye.
The APC campaign organisation described the procession as peaceful and alleged that Akerele, accompanied by armed Amotekun personnel, fired directly into the crowd.
The Party claimed that several of its supporters were injured while attempting to escape from the scene.
It further alleged that four people were shot during the incident, including a 12-year-old boy identified as Oluwatobi Ilesanmi.
According to reports surrounding that incident, the boy was inside his mother’s shop when gunshots were heard during the APC campaign activity.
The alleged shooting of the minor reportedly triggered protests in parts of Ilesa, with residents calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The latest report of four APC members being shot has therefore added another layer to an already tense political environment in the ancient town.
The competing political camps have repeatedly traded accusations over violence, intimidation and criminal activities as the election approaches.
Earlier in the year, APC and Accord supporters were also involved in a confrontation during the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Ilesa.
The March incident reportedly occurred around the Isida area when supporters of the two parties converged on Ward 8 during the registration exercise.
Residents reported hearing gunshots in the Isida and Ita-Akogun areas, forcing some traders and business owners to close their shops.
Two people were reportedly injured during that confrontation.
INEC subsequently confirmed the clash and said no official of the electoral commission was injured. The Commission also convened a stakeholders’ meeting following the incident.
Political tensions have also been fuelled by separate allegations of abductions and attacks involving supporters of the two parties.
In June, two people described as Accord Party members were reportedly abducted in Ilesa by suspected political thugs.
A video circulated after the incident showed a man being forced into a vehicle bearing markings associated with the campaign of the APC governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
The development prompted protests by Accord supporters in Ilesa, who accused suspected APC-linked hoodlums of carrying out the abductions.
The protesters marched to the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, demanding action from security agencies.
However, the APC campaign organisation rejected allegations linking its members to the incident, describing the episode as an attempt to damage the image of the Party and its candidate.
The police later confirmed the abduction cases and disclosed that the two victims had been rescued. Police authorities said investigations were ongoing and that those allegedly responsible had not been arrested at the time of the report.
Another politically related shooting was also reported in Osogbo in June, when an APC member, Taofeek Mustapha, was allegedly shot in the leg by suspected political thugs.
Mustapha claimed that the attackers targeted him after seeing him wearing a cap associated with the campaign of the APC governorship candidate.
He further alleged that some of the attackers wore Accord Party insignia.
The Osun State Police Command confirmed the shooting and said an investigation had commenced.
The repeated incidents have intensified fears that political rivalry could escalate into further violence before and during the August 15 governorship election.
The contest is particularly significant because Governor Adeleke, who is seeking another term, is facing a strong challenge from the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
With campaign activities continuing across the State, Ilesa remains an important political battleground in Osun East and has increasingly featured in reports of clashes and allegations involving supporters of rival parties.
The latest shooting also places renewed pressure on security agencies to strengthen surveillance around campaign venues and prevent political disagreements from turning violent.
Although allegations have been made against supporters of both APC and Accord at different times, the claims remain subject to investigation, and political affiliation alone does not establish responsibility for any criminal act.
For residents, however, the succession of incidents has raised concerns about their safety as the election approaches.
The condition of the four APC members reportedly shot on Tuesday was not immediately known, and there was no confirmed public account from security authorities establishing the identities of the attackers or the circumstances that led to the latest shooting.
Authorities are expected to investigate the incident and determine whether it was politically motivated and identify those responsible.
The development underscores the growing importance of effective security arrangements as Osun State moves into the final days before the governorship election.
Political parties and their supporters have also faced increasing calls to restrain their members, avoid inflammatory conduct and allow campaigns to proceed without violence.
With only days remaining before voters head to the polls, the latest incident in Ilesa has again placed political security at the centre of attention in Osun State.
The priority for security agencies will now be to prevent further attacks, protect residents and political supporters, and ensure that the election takes place in an atmosphere where voters can freely participate without fear or intimidation.