Bola Oyebamiji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, has alleged fresh attacks on members of the party and urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to call his supporters to order.

Oyebamiji spoke on Friday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, days after losing the governorship election to Adeleke.

The APC candidate said Tinubu advised him and other stakeholders to prioritise peace, stressing that governance is ultimately about the people.

“I met with our father, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and what Baba said was that the most important thing is to run every election with a peaceful mind,” Oyebamiji told State House correspondents.

“It is important for us as Nigerians to know that government is about people. And because it is about people, it is important that we need to be peaceful.

“I want to appeal to our people in Osun that they need to be peaceful.”

Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815.

The result gave Adeleke a margin of 66,252 votes. He won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11.

Despite the defeat, Oyebamiji said the APC is still reviewing the election results and would announce its position after completing the exercise.

“For now, the APC is still examining the books, and by the time we spread our sheet, we’ll be able to get back to the public on what our own opinion is and what decisions we want to take,” he said.

He urged APC members and other residents of the state to remain calm while the party completes its assessment.

“But the takeaway is that they should be calm. They should be calm,” he said.

Oyebamiji also appealed to Adeleke to address his supporters and prevent further violence in the state.

“I want to advise the governor too that it’s important for him to talk to his people. Violence is against our people,” he said.

“It’s not too good, and he needs to talk to them so that each and every one of us can be on the same page.”

The APC candidate said his appeal followed alleged fresh attacks on party members after the election.

Asked for details, Oyebamiji alleged that four or five people were attacked in his hometown, Ikire, on Friday morning.

“Well, yes, even as of this morning in my own village, Ikire, some were attacked. About four or five people were attacked. 

We have informed the security operatives accordingly. That’s what I have to say about that,” he said.