Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, widely known as Fryo, has recently become the governorship candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the August 2026 elections in Osun State. His rise to the forefront comes as previous candidate Ademola Adeleke unexpectedly resigned, citing ongoing leadership challenges within the party. Adedamola’s name now dominates political discussions across Osun. Should Omisore emerge the candidate of the APC, two controversial candidates fingered in the high-profile murder of Chief Ajibola Ige SAN will be shockingly slugging it out.
However, for many residents of Osun and Oyo, the name Adedamola carries a weight of historical significance, not all of it positive. He is also infamously remembered as a prime suspect in the murder of Bola Ige, Nigeria’s former attorney-general.
A NAME FROM A DARK HISTORY
On December 23, 2001, Ige was shot dead in his home in Ibadan, an event that sent shockwaves throughout Nigeria. The murder was linked to a fierce political rivalry involving Bisi Akande and Iyiola Omisore, showcasing the intensity of political conflict in the region.
Ige had been pivotal in attempting to mediate peace between the warring factions, but his efforts were overshadowed by rising tensions, leading to his tragic assassination. Just days before his death, Ige faced a humiliating attack in Ile-Ife, during which he was publicly insulted.
Following Ige’s murder, Festus Keyamo, a human rights lawyer, introduced Adedamola as a key informant, claiming he held crucial information regarding the identity of Ige’s killers. Adedamola reportedly surrendered to the police after Keyamo alleged that Omisore had offered him financial inducements to participate in Ige’s murder.
“He (the suspect) came to me because he felt abandoned by everybody. He thought he had nobody in the world and believed they have abandoned him. He knows all the facts. Those that did it on his finger-tips,” Keyamo stated at the time.
However, tension escalated when Adedamola later recanted his accusations. He claimed that Keyamo pressured him into framing Omisore, insisting he had no foreknowledge of Ige’s murder despite participating in the previous public humiliation, which included the removal of his cap at the palace of the Ooni.
In his words: “I trace my ordeal to the event in the Ooni Palace, where I saw the youths singing against Ige, and I participated in removing his cap. We did it because we knew that he was the brain behind the crisis. I did not know about his death,” Adedamola said.
COURT PROCEEDINGS AND NOTABLE SUSPECTS
Thirteen individuals, including Alani Omisore and various associates, were charged in connection with Ige’s murder, but the case saw several twists that undermined the prosecution’s efforts. By 2004, following the overruling of charges against the remaining suspects, the question “Who killed Bola Ige?” remained as pertinent as ever, with no convictions attained.
The thirteen suspects, including Alani Omisore, the cousin of the deputy governor, were arraigned before an Ibadan high court.
Others on the charge list included: Adesiyan Oyewale Jelili, Adekunle Alao, Hon. Lambe Oyasope, Daramola Ezekiel, Sergeant Oye Oniyanda, Adebayo Adegoke, Karimu Lawal, Nelson Kumoye, Oluwole Ogunjiwu, Police Corporal Sule Ibrahim, and Idowu James.
A report by the Cable says:
“At one point, the dragnet widened so dramatically that even Omisore and Keyamo were arrested and arraigned in connection with the murder.”
“The back-and-forth weakened the prosecution’s case.”
“On October 16, 2004, the six remaining accused persons — Adedamola, Daramola Ezekiel, Oye Oniyanda, Nelson Kumoye, Kareem Lawal, Adebayo Adegoke and Oluwole Ogunjimi — were set free by the court after Atilade Ojo, the judge, ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the two-count charge of conspiracy and murder levelled against them.”
WHO WAS FRYO?
Born into a politically active family, Adedamola is the son of Tunde Adebayo, a notable lawmaker. His background was further complicated by claims from relatives expressing distress at his involvement in the murder investigation—a reflection of the family’s Christian values and their distance from criminality.
“My family is not that kind of family; it is a Christian family. We have never been involved in anything criminal to the extent of murdering somebody,” remarked Ayo Martins, a family relative.
Despite previous close ties, tensions within the family surfaced when Fryo’s father denied his paternity amidst the unfolding murder saga.
PUBLIC REACTION
Adedamola’s candidacy has prompted a range of reactions on social media. One user on X, The Classic Man, expressed skepticism about his suitability: “This nomination raises serious questions about the quality of leadership Nigeria is producing.”
As Osun prepares for the upcoming elections, the dichotomy of Adedamola’s public persona poses crucial questions about accountability and the evolution of political leadership in Nigeria.