Ilorin, Kwara State – Christopher Tunji-Ayeni, former Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, died in a tragic car accident on Thursday.
The incident was confirmed in a statement by Mrs Olayinka Basambo, Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kwara State.
According to Basambo, the FRSC received a call from bystanders about the accident at approximately 10:10 a.m. FRSC officers reached the scene, located near Igbaja Junction on the Ajase-Ilorin highway, within 15 minutes.
Basambo reported that the accident involved a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck with registration number ARP 545 KY and a commercial truck registered as T-17488LA.
The crash, which occurred in Ajase-Ipo in the Irepodun local government area, involved five individuals – three men and two women.
The victims were transported to the nearest hospital in Ajase-Ipo, where Tunji-Ayeni succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
A respected political leader in Kwara, Tunji-Ayeni was recently the House of Representatives candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election before switching allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tunji-Ayeni’s death is a significant loss for the political community in Kwara State, with condolences pouring in from leaders across party lines.