15/07/2026
British High Commission, EU Probe Political Killings In Osun Ahead Of Governorship Election, Weigh Visa Sanctions
There have been heightened tensions ahead the Osun state gubernatorial election scheduled for August 15, 2026
The British High Commission and the European Union Delegation to Nigeria have reportedly commenced investigations into the recent wave of political killings in Osun State ahead of the state's governorship election, following concerns raised by civil society groups and diplomatic engagements over the violence.
According to sources familiar with the development, several Western diplomatic missions, including the British High Commission and the European Union Delegation, have activated internal processes to verify reports of the killings, identify those allegedly responsible, and determine whether sanctions, including visa restrictions, should be imposed on individuals found culpable.
There have been heightened tensions ahead the Osun state gubernatorial election scheduled for August 15, 2026
It was gathered that the development gained further momentum following petitions submitted by the Osun Civil Society Coalition detailing a series of killings allegedly targeting members of the Accord Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The petitions also revisited the killing of APC member Remi Abbas, describing it as the only reported incident involving an APC victim during what the coalition characterised as the forceful takeover of local government secretariats by the Osun APC.
It was stated that the various aggrieved groups noted that although the police launched an investigation into Abbas' death, six PDP and Accord members were allegedly killed by "self-identifying APC thugs" during the same incident without similar investigative attention.
The coalition further argued that the current wave of violence differs from the political clashes witnessed in 2022.
It maintained that while both the APC and the PDP/Accord allegedly lost nearly equal numbers of supporters during the 2022 violence, law enforcement authorities have reportedly handled investigations in a biased manner.
It was further gathered that the petitioners submitted the names and party affiliations of Accord members allegedly killed or injured over the past two months, warning that the violence poses a serious threat to the credibility and peaceful conduct of next month's governorship election.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the petitions prompted officials of the European Union Delegation and members of the British High Commission to visit Osun State recently.
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, the Osun State Government announced that the European Union Election Observer Mission would monitor the forthcoming governorship election in line with its longstanding commitment to observing elections and encouraging compliance with democratic norms.
The Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Guschelbauer, was quoted as saying during a courtesy visit to Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Government House in Osogbo that the European Union remained committed to strengthening democratic practices through free and fair elections.
According to him, the European Union hopes to see the Osun governorship election conducted in full compliance with Nigeria's electoral laws, particularly as the poll is widely regarded as a precursor to the country's 2027 general elections.
The British High Commission delegation was also reported to have visited the state on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Sources noted that the visits by the Austrian and British delegations have heightened international attention on the political situation in Osun.
It was further gathered that the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, working alongside the political department of the United States Department of State, has resolved to closely monitor developments and investigate the political killings recorded in the state.
The reported investigations come after Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, called on the international community to impose visa bans and economic sanctions on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and other top leaders of the APC in Osun State over their alleged roles in sponsoring political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The governor specifically named Oyetola, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the party's campaign Director-General, Hon. Wole Oke, alleging that they and other APC leaders were encouraging violence that has claimed lives and heightened political tension across the state.
Adeleke made the allegations while receiving a delegation from the British government in Osogbo ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Addressing the delegation, the governor accused the named APC leaders and their associates of actively promoting political violence, alleging that their actions had resulted in killings and gun attacks in different parts of Osun State.
Reacting, however, the APC governorship candidate in the forthcoming Osun governorship election, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, dismissed Governor Adeleke's call for Britain to impose economic sanctions and visa bans on APC leaders in the state.
Oyebamiji criticised the governor over what he described as "fabricated accusations of promotion of political violence, saying they were spurious, unfounded and a joke of the century."
Sources, however, told SaharaReporters that the recurring nature of the violence, despite assurances by security agencies, as well as allegations of collaboration by its sponsors, has intensified scrutiny by foreign diplomatic missions.
Recently, Adeleke was quoted as saying that he would not object to the arrest of anyone found responsible for the crisis, "even if it were to be my son."
SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday that a young man identified as Abiodun Saburi Kabiru was allegedly shot dead in Ikire, Osun State, on the evening of Monday, July 13, by a group of suspected APC thugs.
The incident is said to have occurred near the YOMMYRITE Restaurant area, close to the Irewole Local Government Secretariat in Ikire.
"Another tragic incident was reported in Ikire on the evening of Monday, July 13, involving the death of a young man identified as Abiodun Saburi Kabiru,” the source said.
The source noted that witnesses alleged that a group of suspected APC thugs pursued Kabiru from the scene, across the expressway and through the local government secretariat, before he was reportedly shot near a house close to the secretariat.
