Fresh controversy has erupted in Osun State after the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, was accused of physically attacking Francis Eniade, the APC candidate contesting the Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin Federal Constituency seat.
The alleged confrontation reportedly left Eniade injured. Images shared online appeared to show the APC candidate with blood on his body.
The incident was also said to have resulted in injuries to other individuals, while some vehicles were reportedly damaged amid the confrontation.
The alleged attack took place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, only two days before the August 15 Osun governorship election.
Footage said to have captured part of the incident has since emerged on social media. However, the circumstances that led to the reported confrontation remain unclear, as the claims had not been independently verified when this report was filed.
An X user who claimed to have knowledge of what happened alleged that Egbedun was responsible for the attack on Eniade.
The user wrote: “Speaker Wale Egbedun just attacked Eniade. Dozens were injured, and several cars were destroyed. Where are the so-called neutrals to condemn this?”
Egbedun is a known supporter of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign for another term in office.
Before the reported clash, the Speaker had called on the authorities to arrest Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Eniade over statements he considered capable of inciting violence.
Fadahunsi appeared before the Osun State Police Command on Wednesday over allegations relating to comments attributed to him concerning attacks on Accord Party supporters.
Despite the reports circulating online, the police had yet to confirm that Egbedun and Eniade were involved in a physical confrontation as of the time of filing.
Egbedun had also not issued a public response to the allegation, while there was no immediate confirmation that Eniade had officially reported the matter to the police.
The latest allegation comes against the backdrop of several accusations of political violence in Osun State as parties intensify their campaigns ahead of Saturday’s election.
In June, the Accord Party raised an alarm over an alleged attack on three traditional chiefs in Okinni, located in Egbedore Local Government Area.
The party claimed that the chiefs were shot after armed men allegedly invaded the community at about 9pm. The victims were reportedly taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
Oba Abdulmaruf Ameen, the traditional ruler of Papanla in Okinni, was said to have visited the injured chiefs at the hospital.
Accord alleged that individuals linked to the APC were behind the incident, while the APC countered that its own supporters had also suffered attacks and accused rival political actors of trying to create fear in the state before the election.
The police later appealed to the political parties to avoid making claims that could aggravate the situation.
Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi warned against the politicisation of security incidents, stressing that attempts to manipulate facts for political gain could threaten public order.
“The Command views attempts to distort facts for political advantage as irresponsible and detrimental to public peace and security,” Ojelabi said.
The warning followed contradictory accounts from Accord and the APC regarding the Okinni shooting.
APC Supporter Reportedly Shot
Another incident was reported in Osogbo in June when an APC member identified as Taofeek Mustapha was allegedly shot.
Mustapha reportedly claimed that he became a target after wearing a cap carrying the insignia associated with Bola Oyebamiji, the APC candidate in the governorship election.
He further alleged that the people who attacked him were displaying Accord Party symbols.
Police authorities confirmed that an investigation into the shooting was underway.
The political atmosphere became more strained in July following the arrest of Popoola Alaba, the Accord Party candidate for the Ijesa South Federal Constituency.
The Imole Campaign Council, a political group backing Governor Adeleke, demanded that Alaba be released immediately.
The group alleged that security operatives associated with Senator Francis Fadahunsi had abducted Alaba alongside three other Accord members.
The police rejected the allegation and explained that Alaba was arrested after authorities received a petition accusing him of illegal mining and other offences.
According to the police, four individuals arrested over the matter were being investigated.
The Imole Campaign Council maintained that the police action was politically motivated, but the command insisted that the arrest was connected to an ongoing investigation.
Accord subsequently accused the APC of deliberately creating violent incidents that could later be blamed on its supporters. The APC denied the accusation and rejected claims that it was involved in political violence.
With the governorship election now only days away, the latest allegations involving Egbedun and Eniade have added to growing concerns about the political tension surrounding the poll.
