Three people were injured on Tuesday as political violence erupted across Osun State, with Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) trading accusations over who started the bloodshed.

The trouble began early Tuesday morning during an APC rally in the Ife Federal Constituency. Around the Sabo area in Ile-Ife, thugs attacked the APC team. The attackers were fought off, and their motorcycle was set on fire. News of the clash spread quickly.

By the time the APC campaign convoy was returning from Ede, it ran into a shootout with Accord party supporters at Akoda and Owode-Ede in Ede-North local government area. Later, thugs were seen firing into the air at Aregbesola Bus Stop, Olaiya, and Oke-fia in Osogbo, the state capital.

Governor Adeleke addressed journalists at the Government House Banquet Hall in Osogbo and blamed the APC. He said the hoodlums were supporters of the party's candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene to stop the violence.

"Reports indicated that the attacks started early this morning in Ile-Ife, especially the Sabo area. The APC thugs fired guns sporadically, creating commotion in the ancient city," Adeleke said.

He added that they were processing that information when they got details of large-scale attacks and gunshots at both Ede and Osogbo. According to eyewitness accounts, the attacks started at Akoda and continued at Aisu Junction, where the assailants jumped down and shot sporadically.

"The attackers in a 15-vehicle convoy branded with AMBO pictures further launched attacks at Owode. They then proceeded to Olaiya, Old Garage, Oke Fia and even around Government House," the governor said.

Adeleke later led media and cabinet members on a sympathy visit to the injured at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, and General Hospital, Ede.

The APC Campaign Council fired back through its Media Chairman, Remi Omowaye. He blamed the governor for the violence and expressed concern over sponsored attacks against APC members.

"The Council condemns in the strongest terms the growing culture of intimidation, harassment and violence being perpetrated by the criminal elements acting under the influence of the ruling party in the state," Omowaye said.

He called on Adeleke to immediately call his political foot soldiers, janjaweed and thugs to order before they plunge Osun State into a deeper state of insecurity.

"Only this morning, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, campaign buses belonging to the APC were attacked and vandalised by suspected PDP/Accord bandits in the Owode-Ede area. The attack left several AMBO supporters severely injured while valuable campaign materials and property were destroyed," he said.

Meanwhile, soldiers from the Nigeria Army Engineering Regiment Corps, Ede, reportedly invaded the business premises of an APC chieftain, Lawrence Dada, around the testing ground area of Osogbo. They allegedly carted away two motorcycles, a mounted CCTV camera, and a generating set, and arrested two persons.

Dada said he spoke with the soldiers on the phone and told them he was an APC member. He asked whether membership of a political party is a crime and called on the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to investigate the invasion.

"The soldiers from Ede, while I was speaking with them on the phone, alleged that I am an APC, and I told him yes, then asked whether it's a crime. He was shouting that I should come to the office, but before I got there, they'd carted valuables away along with two persons," Dada said.

In response to the violence, the Osun State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, advised political parties to suspend rallies in the Oriade local government council area. The command's spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the decision is based on credible intelligence and security concerns that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

"This move by the command is due to the non-cooperative attitude of some parties, as all efforts by the command to foster peace ended in a deadlock. This proactive measure is aimed at preventing any breach of peace/breakdown of law and order, maintaining public order, and protecting the lives and property of residents of the area," the statement read.

All political parties, candidates, supporters, and members of the public are advised to take note and comply.