IBADAN, Oyo State — Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide Odidiomo, has reaffirmed his resolve to pursue legal action against popular broadcaster and Accord Party governorship candidate, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, over allegations linking him to the recent violence in Molete, Ibadan.
Odidiomo, who represents Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency and is the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District in the 2027 general election, described the allegations as an attempt to damage his reputation and vowed to seek legal redress.
The controversy followed a Facebook Live broadcast on Oriyomi Hamzat Live, during which the broadcaster reportedly displayed a fez cap allegedly associated with Odidiomo and claimed that individuals wearing similar customised caps were involved in an attack against him during the Molete disturbance. Hamzat also reportedly linked the individuals to an earlier assault involving another federal lawmaker, Hon. Remi Oseni.
Odidiomo’s campaign organisation has rejected any connection between the lawmaker and the violence, describing the allegations as unsubstantiated and defamatory. In a statement issued in Ibadan on October 15, 2026, the organisation demanded that Hamzat provide verifiable evidence to support his claims.
The organisation gave the broadcaster 24 hours to substantiate the allegations and demanded that, should he fail to do so, he remove the disputed video, publish a five-minute video retracting the claims and issue an unreserved public apology.
It further demanded that the apology be published in five major national newspapers and 10 leading online news platforms within 72 hours, warning that failure to comply would prompt its legal team to initiate proceedings over alleged defamation and libel.
Odidiomo subsequently reiterated his position during a visit to Molete, where he assessed the destruction caused by the violence, met affected traders and families, and pledged support for victims.
During the visit, the lawmaker condemned the violence and called on security agencies to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
He also pledged to provide restitution for affected traders whose goods, vehicles and other assets were destroyed. According to reports of the visit, six severely affected traders had been identified, while the lawmaker promised to provide a replacement motorcycle for a commercial rider who was reportedly assaulted and had his motorcycle taken during the incident.
Odidiomo further visited the family of the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu to express solidarity following the reported attack on the family’s household and supporters. He also pledged to pay the medical bills of victims hospitalised following the violence.
The lawmaker maintained that political disagreements must not be used to justify violence or the circulation of allegations capable of damaging an individual’s reputation. He urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding while security agencies investigate the incident.
The dispute has drawn attention to the growing tensions surrounding political activities in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general election, particularly as major political figures position themselves for elective offices.
As of the latest reports reviewed, Odidiomo’s camp had reaffirmed its intention to pursue legal remedies, but there was no independent confirmation that a court had formally received a suit against Hamzat over the disputed broadcast.
The central demand remains that Hamzat either provide verifiable evidence for the allegations or withdraw the disputed material and issue the requested public apology. The claims against Odidiomo remain allegations, and the circumstances surrounding the Molete violence require proper investigation by the relevant authorities.
