Desperation of APC in the Air as Gunmen Attack Adeleke’s Convoy in Osogbo

Tension and political uncertainty heightened in Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday after suspected gunmen opened fire on the convoy of Governor Ademola Adeleke shortly after he visited the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji.
The incident occurred barely hours after Adeleke received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in recognition of his victory in the recent Osun State governorship election.
According to reports, the governor had arrived at the Ataoja’s palace at about 3:15 p.m. in a convoy of roughly 20 vehicles after leaving the Osun State INEC headquarters in Osogbo.
Adeleke reportedly met with the traditional ruler and presented his Certificate of Return to the monarch before the meeting came to an end.
However, as the governor and his entourage prepared to leave the palace, heavy gunfire reportedly erupted around the premises.
An eyewitness said the attackers arrived in an unregistered Sienna vehicle through the Ita-Olokan area and opened fire around the palace.
The shooting reportedly lasted between 12 and 15 minutes, forcing traders, residents and other members of the public to flee for safety.
Security personnel attached to the governor were said to have responded to the attack, engaging the suspected assailants in a gun battle and successfully repelling them.
The attackers reportedly fled towards Ita-Olokan along the Osogbo-Ilesa Road.
A trader in the area, identified as Munirat, alleged that the attackers may have known about the governor’s visit and positioned themselves around the palace before his arrival.
The attack also reportedly resulted in damage to the main gate of the Ataoja’s palace, while sporadic gunshots were said to have continued around the area after the governor’s convoy had departed.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed the attack, describing the attackers as hoodlums.
According to him, the governor’s security personnel successfully repelled the attackers and there was no reported casualty.
“They are hoodlums, and the governor’s security repelled them. They attacked the governor’s convoy at Ataoja’s palace. No casualty,” Alimi said.
The attack has, however, generated fresh concerns over the growing political tension in Osun State, particularly following the outcome of the governorship election.
With the 2027 general elections already dominating Nigeria’s political discourse, the incident is likely to trigger renewed calls for political actors and their supporters to reject violence and allow democratic processes to take their course.
For supporters of the Adeleke administration, the attack raises questions about the safety of elected officials and whether political disagreements are gradually being allowed to degenerate into violence.
Some political observers have also described the development as disturbing, warning that the increasing desperation surrounding political contests could have dangerous consequences if not urgently addressed.
While there is presently no established evidence linking the suspected attackers to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the timing of the incident and the broader political atmosphere have already fuelled speculation among supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Authorities are expected to investigate the incident, identify those behind the attack and establish their motive.
As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the shooting, and no official evidence had been released linking the incident to any particular political party or organisation.
The priority, political analysts say, should now be a transparent investigation capable of bringing the perpetrators to justice and preventing further escalation of political violence in Osun State.
The incident is a stark reminder that political competition must not become a battle for survival, and that the 2027 political season must be approached with restraint, responsibility and respect for democratic institutions.