The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the violence reported in Osun State ahead of the governorship election, calling on security agencies to identify and prosecute individuals involved in perpetrating or inciting violence.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the position known during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, saying the APC had no interest in violence and was confident that its candidate could win the election on the strength of the party’s record.
Morka described the reports of killings and injuries as disturbing, insisting that no Nigerian should be attacked simply for exercising the right to participate in an election.
“The events unfolding in Osun, the level of violence is disturbing on so many levels. People have no business getting killed or injured just because they try to participate in an election called by the country in their state, ” he said.
He urged the police and other security agencies responsible for maintaining law and order to investigate the incidents and ensure that anyone found to have participated in or encouraged violence was brought to justice.
“We at the APC totally condemn all of the acts of violence that we’ve witnessed in Osun in the lead-up to this election, ” he said.
Morka maintained that the APC’s preferred approach was to persuade voters through its record and policy message rather than intimidation or violence.
While condemning violence generally, the APC spokesman placed particular responsibility on Governor Ademola Adeleke, arguing that as governor and the state’s Chief Security Officer, he should be doing more to maintain peace.
Morka also alleged that some supporters of the governor were involved in the violence and accused Adeleke of failing to sufficiently restrain them.
“The governor is a candidate in this election, contesting for re-election. He has his supporters who are running amok in the streets as well, ” he said.
However, Morka stopped short of assigning blame exclusively to the APC’s opponents, acknowledging that he did not have enough evidence to determine which political group was responsible for particular incidents.
“The violence is not one-sided. I don’t sit here to say APC and its supporters have not, because I don’t have all the evidence and information to make that determination, ” he said.
He urged all parties and their supporters to reject violence, behave responsibly and allow their records and campaign messages to influence voters.
Police Asked to Determine Fadahunsi’s Intent
On controversial comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Morka said the senator had provided his own explanation but argued that it was the responsibility of the police to determine whether the remarks constituted unlawful conduct.
“I don’t think it’s for any of us, yourself, myself, or even the party to be second-guessing what was said or wasn’t said.
That is the job of the police.
He said Fadahunsi had reportedly been invited by the police to explain his comments and urged the authorities to properly establish the context before deciding whether further action was necessary.
Morka also defended President Bola Tinubu’s role in the Osun election, saying the President’s priority was to respect the electorate’s choice rather than use the federal government to advance the interests of the APC.
“The President is about the people and their choice, their freedom to choose those who govern them, ” he said.
He said the President was not interested in placing the APC above the democratic choice of voters in Osun or anywhere else in the country.
Morka similarly defended Tinubu’s intervention in an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) matter, arguing that the President’s directive to temporarily suspend the process was not intended to interfere with the agency’s investigative powers.
According to him, the EFCC was carrying out its responsibilities, but the timing of its action had become politically sensitive because of the election.
“The President has oversight responsibility on the EFCC. Making a process directive, as he did, didn’t touch the substance of the EFCC’s authority or independence to investigate cases.”
Assessing the party’s chances in the election, Morka launched a strong attack on Adeleke’s record, describing his performance as “very dismal” and accusing the governor of failing particularly in the health and education sectors.
“Governor Adeleke’s record has been very lackluster. Governor Adeleke has been very dismal in his performance as governor, ” he said.
Morka said the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, was capable of defeating the incumbent and pointed to endorsements from institutions and prominent stakeholders as evidence of growing support.
He expressed confidence that voters would deliver their verdict at the polls.
APC Expects Credible Election
Morka said the APC expected the election to be free, fair and credible, while expressing confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to perform its statutory responsibilities.
He also encouraged Osun residents not to be discouraged by reports of violence, urging them to turn out and exercise their right to vote.
“I expect it to be free and fair, and I expect it to be credible, ” he said.
He said voters should be trusted to assess the performance of the incumbent administration and choose the candidate they believe deserves the mandate.
On campaign materials featuring President Tinubu used by Adeleke’s camp, Morka said voters were sophisticated enough to distinguish between the President’s popularity and any suggestion that he had endorsed Adeleke’s re-election bid.
“The people in Osun and the voters everywhere in this country are smarter than we sometimes portray them, ” he said.
On plans by opposition parties to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, Morka dismissed the development as a serious threat to the APC.
He argued that the parties involved had not presented Nigerians with a coherent alternative to the Tinubu administration, saying their message had largely centred on removing the President and APC from power.
“It’s not about what they are offering to Nigerians as an alternative replacement for the APC or the President, ” he said.
According to Morka, opposition parties needed to articulate clear programmes, policies and a vision capable of persuading Nigerians rather than simply campaigning against the ruling party.
Morka also rejected claims that poverty was worsening under the Tinubu administration, arguing that improvements in Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators would eventually translate into better living conditions.
He said the country’s economic difficulties had accumulated over several decades and that the reforms introduced by the current administration were attempts to address longstanding structural problems.
“The point I’m making is that when this President has taken steps which no other president before him had the political will to take, to begin to tackle problems that were sitting there festering over decades, and today we’re seeing the results, ” he said.
He acknowledged that the full impact of the reforms had yet to be felt at the household level but insisted that the country was moving in the right direction.
“We must acknowledge that this President has done a lot right.”
Morka said the administration’s economic measures should therefore be assessed not only by immediate hardship but also by the longer-term improvements they are designed to produce.
