Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
A middle-aged man, whose identity has not been revealed, was electrocuted while allegedly destroying a campaign billboard for one of Oyo State’s gubernatorial candidates.
When he allegedly destroyed the campaign billboard erected in Ibadan, the man died as a result of the electric shock.
As the 2023 general elections approach, Track News has received reports of the destruction of campaign billboards for candidates from various political parties across the state.
Campaign billboards of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord Party (AP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Social Democratic Party have all been vandalized, destroyed, or completely removed in recent times (SDP).
Track News learned that the man, whose identity has not been revealed, was electrocuting himself while destroying a campaign billboard for Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, the Accord gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 elections.
On Friday, the man was electrocuted when he touched an electric wire beside a billboard in Ibadan’s Challenge area.
An unnamed eyewitness stated that the residents of the area had already warned the man against destroying the campaign billboard.
“We had warned him against destroying people’s properties around him,” the source said.
“Suddenly, we noticed him shaking, and no one could approach him because it was obvious that he had accidentally touched the electric wire beside the billboard.”
Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Media Director of the Bayo Adelabu Campaign Organisation, confirmed the incident to Track News on Saturday morning.
Tunji stated that there have been numerous reports of campaign billboards being destroyed throughout the state. Adelabu, he added, expressed deep regret over the incident.
“We heard about the unfortunate incident,” Tunji said. There have been conflicting reports about what the man was doing. Some thought he was repairing the billboard, while others thought he was vandalizing it. Whatever the case may be, no one, not a single Oyo State resident, wishes for anyone’s death. Even if he was vandalizing the board, we would rather engage him positively than curse him.
“Oloye Bayo Adelabu expresses deep regret for the incident and prays for the soul of the deceased to rest in peace.” May Allah, the Almighty, accept him in Aljanah firdaus. His heartfelt condolences go to the unfortunate individual’s family.”
