Victim killed a day before 35th birthday over alleged defection, urges Oyo elders to caution Makinde, Adekanmbi
An All Progressives Congress (APC) member in Ibadan, Oyo State, Ridwan, popularly known as Paul Moor, has been allegedly macheted to death, with the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation accusing suspected Allied People’s Movement (APM) supporters of carrying out the attack.
The victim was reportedly killed on Friday, a day before his 35th birthday, over his defection from the APM to the APC, according to the campaign organisation.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) condemned the killing and called on elders across Oyo State to intervene to prevent further political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation also urged Governor Seyi Makinde and the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, to caution their supporters against attacks on political opponents.
Expressing outrage over the incident, SSACO said political differences should not cost anyone their life, warning that the state must not be allowed to descend into violence as political activities gather momentum ahead of the elections.
The statement read, “The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) was gripped with horror as an APC member in Ward 6, Ibadan South-West Local Government, Ridwan, popularly known with the nickname Paul Moor, was macheted to death by APM hoodlums on Friday.
“The young man was gruesomely murdered for defecting from APM to APC, only 24 hours to his 35th birthday.”
The organisation described the killing as the latest in a series of alleged attacks on opposition figures in the state within the last two weeks.
It recalled that Senator Alli’s wife, Alhaja Tawakalit Alli, was allegedly attacked during a free medical outreach she organised last week.
SSACO also alleged that Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, the APC candidate for Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency, was attacked during a campaign, while the campaign train of Hon. Remi Oseni, the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, was also attacked on the same day.
The organisation further alleged that the campaign team of Accord Party governorship candidate, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, was attacked at Molete, Ibadan, during a campaign.
Condemning the reported incidents, SSACO said, “These ugly attacks and killing of opposition members in Oyo State are anti-democratic, senseless and unacceptable.”
It added that the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freedom of association and expression must be respected, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi must always remember this fact. The state must not descend to bloodshed by their directive,” the statement said.
The organisation urged the governor and the APM candidate to prevail on their supporters to desist from violence, stressing that no political ambition justified the killing of a citizen.
It said, “The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation wishes to remind Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi that Oyo State belongs to all citizens and residents, not just APM members.”
SSACO also called on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to investigate the killing, identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“We call on the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State and other security agencies to fish out these murderers and bring them to justice. Oyo State people deserve a peaceful campaign,” the statement added.
The organisation said Senator Alli would sustain his issue-based campaign ahead of the 2027 elections and urged other political parties to embrace peaceful political engagement.
