The Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council has accused Senator Lere Oyewumi, Senate Deputy Minority Leader, of using a planned protest over the death of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olopade as a political distraction from unresolved investigations into previous political killings in Irewole Local Government Area. The council, in a statement signed by Engr Oluremi Omowaiye, Head of Media and Publicity, expressed sympathy for Olopade’s family but alleged that the senator’s protest was not driven by genuine concern for justice. Instead, it claimed the protest aimed to shift focus from ongoing probes into the murders of two prominent APC figures—Saheed Oyegunju and Hon. Remi Abass.
Oyegunju, who served as APC Treasurer in Ward 9 of Irewole, was abducted and later found dead in February 2023 while en route to an APC presidential campaign rally in Osogbo. The council alleged that Oyewumi and associates were implicated in the incident, and that suspects arrested in connection with the killing were later released under suspicious circumstances. Similarly, the council pointed to the murder of Remi Abass, former Chairman of Irewole Local Government, who was killed inside the council secretariat in February 2025. Reports, according to the council, indicate that suspects in Abass’s case named influential political figures, including Oyewumi, during investigations.
The APC campaign body stressed the need for a thorough, impartial, and professional investigation by law enforcement agencies, free from political interference. It also raised concerns over the whereabouts of Jide Jọda, a suspect linked to the Abass murder, who allegedly absconded after being granted bail. Despite being declared wanted by police, Jọda remains at large, the council said, and is reportedly receiving protection from unnamed political interests.
The council called on Senator Oyewumi to submit himself to security agencies for questioning over the allegations, emphasizing that public protests cannot substitute for legal accountability. It urged Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, to ensure all suspects linked to political killings in Osun State are apprehended and prosecuted without bias. The council insisted that justice must be pursued for all victims of political violence, regardless of political affiliation.
In response, Senator Oyewumi’s media unit denied any involvement in the killings, stating that he has never been invited by police for questioning. The statement noted that on the day Remi Abass died, the senator was attending plenary proceedings in Abuja, a fact it described as publicly verifiable. It highlighted Oyewumi’s record of winning elections without violence and his decision not to challenge the 2019 senatorial election result at the tribunal. The statement also pointed out that Abass had prior encounters with law enforcement, including records with the State CID.
The media unit criticized the APC for attempting to justify the killing of a 14-year-old boy, calling it deeply unfortunate. It also raised concerns about allegations of branded vehicles being used in acts of violence, urging security agencies to investigate. The statement concluded that every loss of innocent life deserves condemnation and that political intimidation and violence are becoming increasingly troubling. It reiterated that all those found guilty of criminal acts, regardless of political leanings, must face justice under the law. The situation underscores growing tensions in Osun State’s political landscape as calls for accountability intensify.
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