​Osun APC Mourns Ezekiel Olopade • Demands Justice For Slain Ilobu Youth • Tasks Adeleke's Campaign DG Lere Oyewumi To Explain Roles in Killings of Saheed Oyegunju, Remi Abass

The Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council has received with deep sadness reports of the death of young Ezekiel Olopade during a violent incident in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State on Sunday.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the parents, family members, friends and loved ones of the deceased over this painful and unfortunate loss.

We pray that Almighty God grants repose to the soul of Ezekiel Olopade and gives his family the strength, comfort and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

The death of any citizen under violent circumstances should concern every well-meaning member of society.

Consequently, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council calls for a comprehensive, transparent and professional investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of Ezekiel Olopade. Those found culpable, regardless of status or political affiliation, must be brought to justice in accordance with the law.

The sanctity of human life must remain paramount. The perpetrators of this heinous act must face the full consequences prescribed by law.

While the circumstances surrounding the death of the young man deserve condemnation and thorough investigation, we find it unfortunate that some political actors have sought to prematurely exploit the tragedy for partisan purposes rather than allowing law enforcement agencies to conduct their work without interference.

It is our considered view that the death of Ezekiel Olopade should not be politicized. This is a moment for sober reflection, empathy for the bereaved family and a collective commitment to ensuring that justice is served.

While it is imperative that the circumstances surrounding the death of young Olopade be condemned and thoroughly investigated, the Council believes that such a solemn call for justice ought to come from a responsible and decent politician, not from a violent and morally bankrupt politician like Senator Lere Oyewumi, the Director-General of the hopeless Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organization, who has been linked to the deaths of several APC supporters, including Saheed Oyegunju, the APC Ward 9 Treasurer in Irewole Local Government Area, and Hon. Remi Abass, former Chairman of Irewole Local Government. 

Notably, Lere Oyewumi and Saheed Oyegunju were from the same Ward 9 in Irewole and Senator Lere Oyewumi has, on several occasions, lost elections in his ward, and many observers have suggested that his desperation to maintain political control of the ward and local government may have driven him to resort to backdoor tactics aimed at altering the political narrative, including silencing influential political figures in the area.

Oyegunju was waylaid and subsequently killed in February 2023, on the very day President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then the APC Presidential Candidate, visited Osun State for his campaign rally. A video showing Saheed Oyegunju being abducted and taken away on a motorcycle by political thugs linked to Senator Lere Oyewumi has been widely circulated on social media by concerned citizens.

Among the individuals reportedly seen in the viral video are Sodeeq Ayewo and Kokumo, who are known associates of Senator Lere Oyewumi. They were reportedly arrested by the police before being released under circumstances that have generated public concern.

Similarly, in February 2025, the sitting Chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Hon. Remi Abass, was killed within the premises of the local government secretariat. Jide Jọda, an appointee of Governor Ademola Adeleke and a self-styled "sit-at-home chairman," has been declared wanted in connection with the murder of Remi Abass, with information stating that he is being harboured in the Government House Okefia to evade arrest of the police. 

Reports have also suggested that Senator Lere Oyewumi was mentioned by some of the suspects currently in police custody.

There have also been allegations that Senator Lere Oyewumi made frantic efforts with huge money to influence law enforcement authorities and interfere with investigations relating to the death of Remi Abass.

The same Oyewumi was captured in a video in which he incited members of his political party to attack and maim APC members who attempted to exercise their franchise and electoral choice on election day 

Today, Governor Ademola Adeleke and Senator Lere Oyewumi are playing saints and acting holier-than-thou in an apparent attempt to derive political capital from the death of a young boy whose tragic demise ought to concern all well-meaning citizens.

To date, neither Governor Adeleke nor Senator Oyewumi has deemed it necessary to commiserate with the family and loved ones of Hon. Remi Abass, even one year after the loss of their breadwinner. In a saner society where a premium is placed on human life, Hon. Remi Abass would have been accorded a state burial, considering that he was the serving political head of a local government at the time of his death.

Yet, it is this same Lere Oyewumi who continues to make disparaging statements and seek to link the APC to the unfortunate and untimely death of young Ezekiel Olopade.

The Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council therefore implores the Osun State Government and the governing Accord Party to allow the Nigeria Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of the deceased rather than politicizing the tragedy.

The police and security agencies should investigate the rumour that the deceased was killed as a collateral damage to demonize the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ibrahim Gotan as an incompetent officer and force his deployment out of the state, a demand the Osun State Government and his proxies have been making over the last one month. 

The death of young Ezekiel is too painful and too tragic to be exploited for political purposes by anyone, especially by those who already have blood of innocent APC supporters hanging on their necks.

Signed:

Engr Benjamin Kayode Adereti 

Deputy Governorship Candidate 

Osun APC

22 June 2026