The remains of Remi Abass, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, were laid to rest on Tuesday following his tragic killing during a violent clash in Ikire.
Abass, who was the elected chairman of Irewole Local Government in the October 15, 2022, council election, was among six casualties confirmed by the police after widespread violence erupted across the state.
The crisis began when APC members attempted to enforce the recent Court of Appeal ruling from Akure, which overturned a Federal High Court judgment that had removed them from office on November 25, 2022.
However, tensions escalated when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also mobilized at the Irewole council secretariat, leading to violent confrontations, multiple deaths, and destruction of properties in different local government areas.
Abass was buried according to Islamic rites at the Ikire Muslim Community burial ground, with party members, associates, and prominent APC figures in attendance.
Reacting to the killing, Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, described Abass’ death as a great loss and condemned the attack.
“This is inhuman, wicked, and callous,” Lawal said in a statement on Tuesday. “The murder of a serving local government chairman under such violent circumstances is unacceptable, and those responsible must be brought to justice.”
Lawal extended condolences to the deceased’s family and the party while directing all APC chairmen and councillors to stay away from their respective council secretariats as a mark of respect for their fallen colleague.
He also called on security agencies to urgently track down and prosecute those behind the killings.
“The police must extend their dragnet to apprehend, investigate, and prosecute the killers of our serving local government chairman and their sponsors. These criminals did not come from the moon,” Lawal stated.
Meanwhile, several local government secretariats across the state remained locked on Tuesday, with no visible security presence.
A visit to the Olorunda Local Government Secretariat at Igbona and the Osogbo Local Government Secretariat in Oke Baale revealed that both premises were deserted.
