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There was panic in some motor parks across Osogbo metropolis, Osun State, on Sunday following the killing of a former unit chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kazeem Oyewole, by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums.

Oyewole, who served as the part-time chairman of the Aregbe Unit of the NURTW between 2018 and 2022, was reportedly attacked and killed in the afternoon around Elelede Junction in Osogbo.

A resident of the area, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the assailants had earlier mounted a base at Elelede Junction, where they were allegedly extorting money from passersby under the guise of raising funds for a carnival.

The source said trouble started when a motorcycle carrying two passengers arrived at the scene.

“Those hoodlums forced the two passengers to disembark and started fighting them. I later heard gunshots. One of the two people was later identified as Kazeem,” the resident said.

According to the eyewitness, the attackers later used large stones to smash Oyewole’s head, killing him on the spot, while the second passenger escaped with injuries.

“After the incident, the hoodlums fled before the police arrived at the scene,” the resident added.

A shop owner at Elelede Junction, identified simply as Basira, said panic forced businesses in the area to shut down abruptly.

“Few shops that opened for business had to close immediately the crisis started. NURTW members who later came identified the victim as Kazeem Oyewole, a former part-time chairman of a unit along the Osogbo–Gbongan road in Aregbe area,” she said.

A visit by The PUNCH to Old Garage and Aregbe motor parks on Sunday evening showed reduced human activity, as commuters and traders avoided the parks over fear of further violence. Some hoodlums were also seen loitering around the parks.

Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said one person was killed in the attack.

“We are aware of the incident that happened at Orita Elelede in Osogbo. Our men were deployed immediately information got to us, but unfortunately, one person was confirmed dead. He was identified as Kazeem. Other name unknown. Investigation has commenced,” Ojelabi said.

On security measures around motor parks, the police spokesperson said the situation was being monitored to prevent escalation.

“We are still monitoring the situation and will continue to monitor the motor parks for now,” he added.

The incident comes barely two months after another NURTW leader, Adeboye Ademoroti, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ilesa on November 27, 2025.

At the time, security sources told PUNCH Metro that Ademoroti and another person were attacked by assailants in the Olomilagbala area of Ilesa, though the circumstances surrounding the killing remained unclear.

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Davos, Switzerland, to lead Nigeria’s delegation at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum.

The forum, which brings together global political and business leaders, will be held from January 19 to 23, 2026.

Shettima arrived from Conakry, Guinea, where he represented President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of President Mamadi Doumbouya on Friday.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, the VP was received on arrival by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; and officials of the Nigerian mission in Switzerland.

This year’s forum marks a milestone in Nigeria’s participation at the annual gathering, with the Federal Government establishing a dedicated sovereign pavilion on the Davos Promenade for the first time.

The facility, called “Nigeria House Davos,” was established through a Public-Private Partnership.

It will serve as a hub for ministerial engagements, investment roundtables, and cultural diplomacy throughout the week.

The Vice President is expected to commission the facility during his visit.

Speaking to journalists after Shettima’s arrival, Oduwole said Nigeria would make a robust presentation of investment opportunities at the launch of Nigeria House.

“We will be showcasing four playbooks on President Tinubu’s efforts in re-engineering the Nigerian economy,” she said, adding, “We will present our solid minerals sector, climate sustainability, agriculture, creative and digital sectors to investors from all over the world.”

According to Nkwocha, Shettima will present Nigeria’s 2026 economic outlook to global leaders during the forum.

He will also participate in plenary sessions focusing on the responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology.

The Vice President is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with heads of state, executives from multinational corporations, and leaders of international development finance institutions throughout the week.

The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos attracts thousands of participants, including heads of government, chief executives, civil society leaders, and journalists.

The 2026 edition is expected to focus on global economic challenges, technological innovation, and climate action.

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Top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have ruled out the granting of automatic tickets to governors, including Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who joined the party recently, as well as Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is expected to join soon.

A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the issue, explained that defection from another political party to the APC does not guarantee an automatic ticket.

Supporting this position, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, described the ruling party as democratic and progressive, stressing that all members would be allowed to fully enjoy and exercise their rights.

Reacting, the National Publicity Secretaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Oladipo Johnson, said the development was expected, adding that the governors involved had made the wrong decisions.

Among the PDP governors who have defected to the APC are Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State (South-South), Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State (South-South), Peter Mbah of Enugu State (South-East), Agbu Kefas of Taraba State (North-East), and, most recently, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State (South-South).

The APC leadership in Kano State has also indicated that the defection of the state governor is imminent.

Beyond the governors, several other prominent politicians—including members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, as well as former governors, former ministers, and other party leaders—have also defected from the PDP to the APC.

Although the defectors have given various reasons for joining the ruling party, some Nigerians argue that the real motive is to secure re-election to their respective offices.

Reacting, a member of the APC National Working Committee said the defections were driven by President Bola Tinubu’s numerous achievements, noting that it would ultimately be up to the people to decide on their re-election.

He said, “I believe it is wrong to assume that people are defecting solely to secure re-election. Many of those joining the All Progressives Congress are doing so because of the achievements of President Bola Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is delivering positive results across various aspects of national life.

“That said, it is important to recall that the APC, sometime last year, clearly stated its position and made it known that even the President would not be granted an automatic ticket, despite enjoying overwhelming support from the National Working Committee, members of the NEC, zonal leadership, and governors who have publicly declared their support should he choose to run again. However, this does not limit the contest solely to President Tinubu. The party has made it clear that the process will be open to any Nigerian who is a member of the APC and wishes to contest for the office of President.

“This same principle applies to all governors, whether they have been long-standing members of the party or recent entrants, including the governors of Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers states, and others. There will be no automatic tickets for any of them. They must contest and earn their tickets through the party’s democratic process. Their achievements in their respective states will be a major factor, as it is the party members who will ultimately decide who flies the APC flag.

“If party members support them and they emerge successful in the process, they become the party’s candidates. However, the APC will not arbitrarily hand over tickets to anyone simply because they are governors or because they defected to the party. That is not the party’s position or intention.

“Presently, the party continues to expand its membership, with new members joining almost daily. As such, all members will be given equal opportunity to aspire to any position. Ultimately, it is the party’s membership that will determine who emerges as candidates and, together with Nigerians at large, decide who governs at the state and national levels. As a party, we will continue to support our governors in appropriate ways, respect all members, and ensure that they enjoy their rights and privileges while fully participating in every stage of this democratic journey.”

Speaking further, the Director of Publicity, in another exclusive interview with The PUNCH, stated that automatic tickets are not being considered for any governor or holder of elective office.

Ibrahim added that the APC leadership is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all aspirants, irrespective of their status.

He said, “The issue of automatic tickets is not something that is on the table now, not just for Kano but for anybody. The party has not decided on giving anybody an automatic ticket, even in the case of the President.

“What the party said it would do, and did, was to give him a vote of confidence, in the event that he decides to enter the race for 2027 based on his performance. The party will support him, but it did not say it would stop other people from indicating interest or contesting alongside him.

“So they will be given their democratic right to contest. Now, if that position is true for the President, what about any other person below the President? The party has not looked into the issue of giving automatic tickets to governors and others. What the party has done, and still stands by, is that it will give a level playing field to everyone, regardless of status. Everyone will be given equal rights to contest.

“Where there is a need for consensus and consensus is reached, then the party will go for that option in order to have a friction-free election.”

Attempts to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off as of press time.

Reacting, the PDP Publicity Secretary said their regret was only beginning, adding that many of them would end up disappointed in the APC.

Ememobong, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, said they abandoned the PDP for selfish reasons rather than in the interest of their people.

He said, “We have said it before that their defection is not in the interest of Nigerians or even the people they govern in their respective states. The move was purely driven by selfish motives.

“We also know that the APC is not a party that truly values its members, so this outcome was expected. We saw it coming, and this is only the beginning of their regret. The APC will continue to treat them as outsiders, and that is simply the reality.

“Over time, they will realise that their influence within the party is limited and their expectations of preferential treatment will not be met. Their constituents, too, may begin to question their decisions, seeing the long-term consequences of abandoning the party that initially supported them.”

The NNPP Publicity Secretary said they were not surprised, noting that the APC tempted them with numerous promises that were unlikely to be fulfilled.

He said, “Well, even before now, I had asked some of the governor’s aides in Kano State as well: what is your guarantee that you will secure a second-term ticket from the party you might be joining? We must also remember that the governor himself has not spoken up until today.

“As is usually the case in the APC, they try to lure you in, and once you are in, they do not provide the ground rules. By the time you realise, it becomes difficult to exit. We are not surprised because the APC will promise them many things, and they may not fulfil any of them.

“This situation is usually far from palatable for the governors, and it often leaves them frustrated, with their political expectations unmet and their ambitions constrained by party realities.”

(PUNCH)