The Accord Party has accused the Nigeria Police Force of intimidation and the unlawful arrest of its members ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
The allegation follows the arrest of the Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five others by the Osun State Police Command during a recent operation in Osogbo, reports Channels TV.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that the arrests were part of a broader pattern of harassment targeting members of the party across the state.
He called for the immediate redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, accusing him of overseeing what he described as unlawful arrests and detentions of Accord Party members.
Olajengbesi claimed that 86 persons, including party candidates and government officials, had been arrested in recent days without justification.
“In the last two, three days, over 86 members of the Accord Party have been arrested for no reason. These people were arrested and brought by road to Abuja and are being detained here unnecessarily,” he said.
“We have met with the leadership of the police and they cannot provide any explanation to us. There is no petition against them. These people have committed no offence. The Commissioner of Police in Osun State is completely compromised.”
The Accord Party spokesperson said the development could undermine confidence in the electoral process, stressing the need for a level playing field ahead of the poll.
“There is a need for us to have a free, impartial election, an election where people can freely express their will. Just now I have been informed the SSG of Osun State has been arrested for no reason because he was sensitising his people about the election,” he added.
The Osun State Police Command has, however, maintained that its actions were based on intelligence and formed part of ongoing investigations into alleged criminal activities.
According to the police, the operation that led to the arrest of the SSG and five others was carried out following intelligence reports that suspected criminal elements were hiding at a property linked to the government official in Osogbo.
The Command has also insisted that it remains committed to enforcing the law without fear or favour and that anyone found culpable at the conclusion of investigations will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
