Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has formally demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into an alleged violent attack on its campaign train in Ososa, Odogbolu Local Government Area, accusing the Nigeria Police Force of arresting the victims of the attack while leaving the perpetrators untouched. The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during the party's Ogun East Senatorial District campaign flag-off, and has escalated into a bitter confrontation between the opposition party and the state's ruling All Progressives Congress, each accusing the other of responsibility for the violence.
The State Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Abayomi Tella, addressed journalists in Abeokuta on Thursday, September 17, 2026, describing a sequence of events that began peacefully before descending into chaos. According to Tella, the campaign train moved from various local government areas through Ijebu-Ode towards Odogbolu without incident until the last batch of vehicles reached Ososa, where hoodlums allegedly opened fire on the convoy and hurled stones and other objects at the campaigners. Several vehicles were vandalised, and some party members sustained injuries in the attack.
Tella said he personally inspected a vehicle belonging to Hon. Agbolade, the party's candidate for the affected constituency, and alleged that the car bore a gunshot mark on its alloy rim after its tyre was deflated. He presented photographs and videos of the damaged vehicles as evidence and demanded that the investigation establish the type of firearm used in the attack. "What type of gun was used to shoot at that particular rim that can penetrate it? I think that's important," Tella said. He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to deploy a special investigation team to Ogun State to probe the incident, describing the IGP as an exemplary leader who would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.
The most explosive aspect of Tella's allegations was his claim that police had arrested PDP members who were victims of the attack rather than the hoodlums who carried it out. "It is sad that the police have now arrested PDP members who are meant to be the complainants. These complainants are the people who were attacked, and they are our members," he said. According to him, between five and six PDP members remained in police custody, while others were reportedly being sought by the police. The PDP chairman said the matter was reported at the Idowa Police Division and the Igbeba Area Command, but expressed frustration that the complainants had become the accused.
The PDP's account was immediately challenged by the All Progressives Congress, which offered a radically different version of events. The APC Publicity Secretary, Olufemi Nuberu, alleged that the sporadic shooting reported in Ososa was carried out by security personnel attached to the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu. The APC condemned the shooting and called on the IGP to launch a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, stressing that anyone found culpable should be held accountable. The conflicting narratives have left the public with two irreconcilable accounts of what happened in Ososa and raised questions about the role of security personnel in the confrontation.
The political context of the attack has added to the tension. The alleged shooting occurred in Ososa, the hometown of the APC deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun, a fact that has fueled speculation about the motives behind the attack. The PDP also alleged that it was prevented from holding its Ogun East campaign flag-off at Idowa despite having obtained approval and paid ₦170,000 for the use of a venue. Tella said party officials initially contacted the Dagburewe of Idowa, who directed them to the Olootu, the official responsible for the venue. According to Tella, the Olootu approved the use of the venue and provided a community account into which the PDP paid the required sum. However, he alleged that the Dagburewe withdrew permission to use the venue a few hours before the rally, prompting the party to relocate the event to Odogbolu. Tella further claimed that when the convoy passed through Idowa, some individuals stopped the vehicles and claimed to be acting on the instruction of the Kabiyesi, and that the gate was locked against the convoy on a government road.
When contacted for comment, the Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, told journalists he was driving and requested that a text message be sent to him. However, he neither responded to the message nor returned subsequent calls. The police have not issued an official statement on the incident or the arrests. The silence from the police command has only deepened the anxiety of the PDP members who remain in custody and their families, who fear they may be used as pawns in a political game.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of political actors and the integrity of the electoral process as the 2027 elections draw closer. The PDP's demand for an IGP-led investigation reflects a broader distrust of the state police command, which the opposition accuses of partisanship. The APC's counter-allegations suggest that the ruling party views the incident as an opportunity to portray the PDP as violent and irresponsible. The truth, as is often the case in Nigeria's heated political environment, may be difficult to establish. What is clear is that the people of Ogun State deserve a transparent, independent investigation that identifies the perpetrators, protects the victims, and ensures that the violence that marred the PDP's campaign flag-off does not become a recurring feature of the 2027 election season.
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