As preparations for August 15 governorship poll in Osun heighten, the state government and leadership of the Accord, today raised the alarm over plan to deploy a special squad to arrest some leaders of the party and top government officials.
A statement by state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said credible information indicated that arrangement had been concluded to create and deploy a special Police Squad ahead of election.
The statement hinted that the squad, allegedly led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (name withheld), is expected to arrive in the state any moment from now and commence operations focused on arresting prominent Accord Party members and some government officials, thereby putting their safety and security at risk, reports The Guardian.
It expressed concern that such selective, partisan operations, if carried out, was capable of raising political tension in the state and expose state government officials and Accord party leaders to harassment and intimidation before and during the election period.
The statement noted that the reported operation was being planned without the knowledge of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, a development the government described as troubling given the sensitive political atmosphere in the state.
According to the statement, “The Osun State Government and the Accord Party therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other security agencies, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely monitor developments in Osun State ahead of the governorship election.
“We hereby place an urgent appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the international community to take note of the looming planned mass arrest of, and attacks on, key figures of the Accord Party in Osun State.
“We also wish to let the IGP know that the peace-loving people of Osun State will resist, through lawful means, any attempt to undermine the democratic process through intimidation, harassment, or abuse of state power.
“We charge the police authorities to toe the path of peace and professionalism and not allow security personnel to be used in ways that could compromise the credibility of the electoral process in Osun State,” the statement added.
The statement further urged the Nigeria Police Force to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities and to avoid actions capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
