Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The chairman of the Accord Party in Osogbo Local Government Area, Hon. Asimiyu Ajibola, popularly known as Baba Isila, is currently receiving treatment at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital after he was shot by suspected political thugs on the night of Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The attack has triggered immediate condemnation from across the political and cultural spectrum, with Afrobeats superstar Davido becoming one of the most prominent voices to call for a halt to political violence.
According to the Osun State Police Command, the incident occurred at about 9:50 pm (some sources give 11:50 pm) along the MDS area of Osogbo, near the Osogbo Community Bank axis. Ajibola was riding in a blue Toyota Corolla with his associates when two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on the vehicle. The assailants chased the car and unleashed a barrage of gunfire. “We were coming from the MDS area, Osogbo, last night at about 9:50pm, and all of a sudden, the gun-wielding men chased and released a volley of bullets on all of us in the car,” a witness told Sahara Reporters.
The occupants managed to escape to the Dugbe Divisional Police Headquarters for safety before the attackers fled. Ajibola sustained gunshot injuries and was initially placed on the danger list. Medical personnel have since confirmed that he is in a stable condition and responding positively to treatment.
The Osun State Police Command, through its spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said a team of police officers swiftly evacuated the victim to a medical facility while other operational teams launched an aggressive pursuit of the fleeing suspects. Preliminary investigation at the scene led to the recovery of exhibits, which are currently being subjected to forensic analysis. The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, has ordered a high-powered investigation into the incident. “He has directed all relevant investigative units to deploy every available resource to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack, identify those responsible, and ensure prompt arrest and prosecution,” Ojelabi said in a statement.
The Osun State Government, through Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi, condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation. “It is an unfortunate incident which should not be allowed to go uninvestigated. The culprits must be brought to book,” Alimi said. He urged the police to investigate the matter professionally and without bias, noting that from all available indices, the attack “has elements of political colourations.”
As the news of the shooting spread, reactions poured in from across the country. Prominent among them was that of Nigerian music star Davido, who took to his X handle to issue a sharp rebuke. The singer condemned the attack in the strongest terms and used the opportunity to directly challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC). “Regardless of our political differences, everyone must make sure they are not contributing to insecurity in our nation,” Davido wrote. “The attack on the Chairman of Accord Party in Osogbo Local Government by political hoodlums must be condemned and rejected by all. If APC is sure they are popular, let’s settle this with ballot papers, not guns or weapons.”
The singer’s words struck a chord with many Nigerians who have grown weary of political thuggery and the normalisation of violence in electoral contests. His post was widely shared and praised for its directness and its call for a return to democratic norms. “Let’s settle with ballot papers, not guns” quickly became a trending phrase, encapsulating the frustration of citizens who want to see the 2027 election decided by votes, not by bullets.
The attack on Ajibola did not occur in a vacuum. It follows a pattern of escalating political violence in Osun State. Just weeks earlier, on May 18, the Accord Party had accused thugs linked to the APC of attacking the campaign office of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the party’s secretariat in Osogbo. That incident marked the second assault on the governor’s campaign office within two weeks. On that occasion, the national chairman of the Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbuden, said the attack was a desperate attempt to intimidate the party ahead of the state’s crucial governorship election.
Ajibola is not just a local party chairman; he is a key figure in Governor Adeleke’s political structure. He serves as the Head of Youth Mobilisation for the Accord Party’s 2026 governorship campaign council. His shooting, therefore, is being viewed by political analysts as a direct strike on the party’s campaign apparatus. The attack has heightened tensions and raised fears of further violence as the country inches closer to the 2027 general elections.
The police have assured the public that no stone will be left unturned in the ongoing investigation. “Citizens are urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and provide credible information that may assist the police in tracking down the perpetrators,” the police statement read. As of Thursday, June 4, 2026, no arrests had been made, and the manhunt for the gunmen continues.
For Davido, the issue transcends partisan loyalty. He has not publicly declared support for any particular party in the 2027 election, but his message was unmistakably aimed at those who would use violence to achieve political ends. “Regardless of our political differences, everyone must make sure they are not contributing to insecurity in our nation,” he said. It was a message of democratic principle, not of party affiliation.
The attack on Ajibola has become a test case for how Nigeria will handle political violence ahead of the 2027 polls. If the perpetrators are not swiftly brought to justice, it may signal to other actors that violence remains a viable tool in the political arena. If, however, the police succeed in arresting and prosecuting those responsible, it could send a strong message that the era of impunity for political thuggery is coming to an end.
As the sun set on Osogbo on Thursday, the blue Toyota Corolla that carried Ajibola and his associates remained impounded as evidence. The bullet holes in its body are a silent testament to a night of terror. The man known as Baba Isila lies in a hospital bed, his political work temporarily halted. And across Nigeria, millions listened to the voice of a musician who chose to speak not with a song, but with a demand for peace.
“If APC is sure they are popular, let’s settle this with ballot papers, not guns.”
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