By KosofePost Reporter
Human rights lawyer and public commentator, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has called for calm and peaceful political engagement following reports that Hon. Wole Oke was booed by residents during a campaign event in Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State.
Oke, a seventh-term member of the House of Representatives, has reportedly faced three hostile public receptions within two weeks, according to accounts circulating online.
Reports also alleged that tensions escalated during the latest incident after voters rejected a proposal offering ₦10,000 in exchange for taking an oath to support the lawmaker’s re-election bid. The allegation has not been independently verified.
The reported incidents have triggered discussions about political accountability, campaign conduct and the need to prevent violence during electioneering.
Olajengbesi Calls for Peaceful Political Engagement
Reacting to the reports, Olajengbesi acknowledged residents’ dissatisfaction with their elected representatives but warned against public humiliation and hostile confrontations.
“While I acknowledge the dissatisfaction and disappointment of our people, publicly humiliating a political figure like Wole Oke is not the right approach,” he said.
He added that hostile receptions confronting the lawmaker across communities should be discouraged, urging residents to channel their grievances through democratic processes.
“However we feel about poor performance or a leader’s prolonged stay in office, the ballot remains the proper means of removing a leader whose time we believe is up,” Olajengbesi said.
He encouraged voters to mobilise peacefully and express their judgment through their votes on election day.
Candidates and Voters Must Be Free to Exercise Their Rights
Olajengbesi also stressed that political candidates should be able to campaign freely, while residents must retain the right to question their representatives, reject their proposals and make independent electoral choices.
“Every candidate should be free to campaign in our communities,” he said. “Our people must equally be free to listen, ask difficult questions, withhold support, and vote according to their conscience.”
The lawyer maintained that citizens have a legitimate right to demand accountability and scrutinise the performance of elected officials, provided their actions remain within the law.
He urged political actors and residents to protect community peace despite disagreements over political leadership.
“Ijesa North is our shared home,” he said. “Long after this election, we will remain neighbours, friends, and family. No political ambition should undermine the peace and dignity of our communities.”