The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, has called on politicians and their supporters to shun violence, thuggery and hate speech ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adegoke made the appeal during an interview with Dominion Radio and Television in Ibadan, urging political parties and candidates to take responsibility for their supporters’ conduct and ensure campaigns remain peaceful and focused on issues.
He warned that political violence could frighten voters away from the electoral process, noting that candidates needed support beyond their party members to secure victory at the polls.
“We should talk to our supporters, our followers, to allow peace to reign. We should not scare away the electorate because we cannot win elections without them. We cannot win elections with our party members alone; we need the people,” he said.
His appeal comes amid reports of political violence in Ibadan, the state capital.
Recall that earlier on Wednesday, members of the Accord Party reportedly clashed with suspected hoodlums at Molete, leaving one person dead and several others injured. The incident reportedly triggered panic among residents.
The All Progressives Congress had also alleged weeks earlier that political thugs attacked its convoy in Ibadan.
Speaking on the causes of insecurity, Adegoke identified youth unemployment as a factor that could make young people vulnerable to political violence. He noted that young people constituted a significant proportion of Oyo State’s population and pledged to prioritise job creation if elected governor in 2027.
“If our youth are fully engaged, they will not be available for thuggery and violence. I want to appeal to my colleagues that we should not allow people to turn Oyo State into an avenue for attacks, an avenue for thuggery, where hoodlums will reign supreme. We don’t want that in Oyo State,” he said.
The ADC candidate also urged his fellow governorship aspirants and other political actors to moderate their campaign rhetoric, avoid personal attacks and present clear policy proposals to voters.
He maintained that campaigns should focus on what candidates intend to achieve and how they plan to implement their promises, rather than inciting supporters against political opponents.
“Our campaign should be issue-based. We should not incite the people. We should measure what we say. Don’t attack one another. Tell the electorate what you want to do and let them judge you,” Adegoke said.
He described his policy agenda as a nine-point programme tagged “SOLUTIONS,” urging candidates to explain their plans to the electorate and refrain from hate speech.
Adegoke further stated that he neither supported political violence nor relied on thugs for his campaign, reiterating his commitment to peaceful participation in the electoral process.
