The campaign organisation of Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide Odidiomo, the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, has given broadcaster and Accord Party governorship candidate Oriyomi Hamzat 72 hours to issue a public apology over allegations linking the lawmaker to the recent unrest in Molete, Ibadan.
The organisation also threatened legal action if Hamzat fails to comply with its demands, describing the allegations as unsubstantiated and defamatory.
In a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by its spokesperson, Tolu Mustapha, the campaign organisation demanded verifiable evidence to support the allegations or a retraction accompanied by a public apology.
The dispute followed a Facebook Live broadcast on Oriyomi Hamzat Live, during which the broadcaster displayed a fez cap allegedly associated with Odidiomo’s campaign.
According to the campaign organisation, Hamzat alleged that individuals wearing similar customised caps attacked him and his supporters during the Molete disturbance. He reportedly linked the same group to an earlier assault involving Hon. Remi Oseni.
The campaign organisation denied that Odidiomo had any connection with the alleged attacks and challenged Hamzat to substantiate his claims.
The allegations have not been independently established.
Campaign Group Demands Evidence Within 24 Hours
The organisation said Hamzat must provide verifiable evidence within 24 hours to support his claims concerning the campaign caps and the alleged connection between the incidents involving him and Oseni.
It also challenged the broadcaster to identify those involved and establish the basis for linking them to Odidiomo.
The campaign group argued that public insinuations should not be treated as proof of an individual’s involvement in an alleged offence.
It maintained that Odidiomo’s political ambition and the circumstances surrounding the Molete disturbance were separate matters.
“We have no business with you, and we are not contesting for the same position,” the statement read.
The organisation said it would pursue legal remedies to protect the candidate’s reputation if the allegations were not substantiated or withdrawn.
Retraction, Apology Demanded
Beyond the 24-hour deadline for evidence, the campaign organisation issued a 72-hour ultimatum for Hamzat to remove the disputed video from social media if he could not substantiate the allegations.
It further demanded that he publish a five-minute video retracting the claims and issue a formal public apology.
According to the statement, the apology should appear in five major national newspapers and 10 leading online news platforms.
The organisation warned that failure to meet its demands would prompt its legal team to institute proceedings over alleged defamation and libel.
The demands represent the campaign organisation’s position in the dispute. Whether the matter proceeds to court will depend on the steps taken by the parties after the ultimatum.
Police Investigate Molete Attack
The controversy follows an attack on supporters welcoming Hamzat back to Ibadan on Wednesday, October 14.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that suspected hoodlums attacked the group after it left Molete while travelling towards Iwo Road, where Agidigbo FM is located.
Police spokesperson Olayinka Ayanlade said the incident was being investigated. The command also confirmed the death of a 40-year-old man, Azeez Tajudeen, who sustained a severe injury during the attack and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The police urged political aspirants, party leaders and event organisers to notify the command at least 48 hours before planned processions and public gatherings to enable adequate security arrangements.
The police confirmation establishes that an attack occurred and that a death was reported. It does not, by itself, establish the identity or political affiliation of those responsible.
Dispute Raises Concerns Over Political Tension
The exchange comes as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections in Oyo State.
The allegations and counter-allegations surrounding the Molete incident have increased calls for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and establish the circumstances of the attack.
The Odidiomo Campaign Organisation urged residents to reject unverified claims capable of damaging political reputations.
With the police investigation ongoing, the central issues remain the identification of the attackers, the evidence supporting the competing claims and whether the threatened legal action will proceed.
Authorities have yet to publicly establish responsibility for the attack.
