By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — Accord Party on Monday accused thugs allegedly linked to the All Progressives Congress of killing Kolade Eluyera, the son of its woman leader in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, warning that ‘bloodshed cannot add a single vote’ to the opposition ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The party said the killing, alleged harassment of its members and destruction of campaign billboards had heightened political tension in Osun as campaigning intensifies ahead of the poll.

In a statement by Maxwell Mgbuden, Accord National Chairman, the party alleged that Eluyera was murdered on Friday near Onireke Mosque in Ikire by political thugs targeting his mother because of her role in the party.

He said: “It is outrageous and barbaric that a young man would be murdered by political thugs to silence his mother, who is a popular Accord woman leader in Irewole Local Government of the state.

“The party is devastated over the cruel murder of a promising young man whose only offence was being a member of Accord, his constitutional right to freedom of association.

“Bloodshed, harassment of Accord members and destruction of billboards of a governor seeking re-election cannot add a single vote to the main opposition party in the state.

“Accord demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this dastardly murder and their sponsors to face the full weight of the law. The party demands justice, as every life of an Osun citizen matters.”

The party also accused security agencies of failing to stop attacks allegedly carried out by APC-linked thugs against its supporters and campaign structures across the state.

It said: “We are deeply saddened over the failure of security agencies to prevent this bloodshed, harassment of our members and destruction of public properties, Imole Campaign and Accord’s billboards across the state by thugs associated with the All Progressives Congress in the state. Security agencies should sit up and take their statutory duties seriously.

“For long, APC in the state has been afraid and frozen over the general acceptance and growing influence of our great party in the state.

“The people want continuity of Adeleke’s good work in the state and are ready to re-elect him on August 15, 2026.”

Accord also alleged plans to rig the governorship election but said voters would resist any attempt to undermine the process.

Calling for peaceful politics, the party urged residents to reject vote-buying and protect the integrity of the election.

“Election is the beauty of democracy. Let us deepen representative governance by making the upcoming governorship poll credible and transparent. Let us make the people’s votes count,” it said.