Osun 2026: Accord Alleges Police, APC Plot To Intimidate Opposition, Demands IGP's Intervention

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

The Accord Party has accused the Osun State Police Command of carrying out what it described as a coordinated campaign of politically motivated arrests and intimidation against its leaders and members ahead of the August 15 governorship election, alleging that security agencies are being deployed to weaken the opposition.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, the party's candidates for the National and State Assemblies, led by the Accord candidate for Ede Federal Constituency, Hon. Bamidele Salam, claimed that recent arrests of party members formed part of a broader strategy to suppress the party's activities before the election.

The party cited the arrest of its House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Mr. Popoola Alaba, who it said was transferred to Abuja after being arrested by the police.

According to the party, the Osun State Police Command claimed the arrest followed a petition from an unnamed individual but failed to disclose the identity of the petitioner or explain whether Alaba had first been invited for questioning before his arrest.

The party argued that the circumstances surrounding the arrest raised concerns about due process and questioned why armed officers allegedly carried out what it described as a "commando-style operation" against a political candidate.

Accord also condemned the arrest of Barrister Olaniyan Sodiq, a legal practitioner and party operative from Ward 4 in Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area.

The party alleged that Sodiq was arrested after challenging what he believed to be unlawful interference by an APC leader during the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), insisting that law enforcement should have investigated the alleged interference instead of arresting the individual who reported it.

The party demanded Sodiq's immediate and unconditional release.

Beyond the arrests, Accord alleged that it had received intelligence suggesting that Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, and another unnamed security chief recently held a secret meeting with APC Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, where plans were allegedly made to target Accord leaders through arrests and detention.

Although the party acknowledged it could not independently verify the alleged meeting, it claimed recent developments appeared to lend credibility to the intelligence.

Accord further alleged that its Osun East Senatorial candidate, Hon. Ibukun Fadipe, alongside several party leaders across Ijesaland, had been marked for arrest using similar methods allegedly employed against Popoola Alaba.

The party also claimed that some labour leaders in Osun State were facing threats of arrest because of their perceived support for Governor Ademola Adeleke, describing the alleged move as an attack on democratic freedoms and constitutional rights.

Accord accused the APC of attempting to use state institutions to intimidate political opponents because of what it described as the ruling party's declining public support ahead of the election.

The party further alleged that there were plans to recruit thousands of hoodlums to impersonate security personnel during the governorship poll to intimidate voters, calling on Senator Fadahunsi to distance himself from any action capable of undermining peace and democracy.

As part of its demands, Accord called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that security agencies remain neutral before, during and after the election.

The party also urged Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu to investigate the alleged collaboration between Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan and Senator Fadahunsi, as well as claims of planned intimidation of opposition figures and the alleged importation of thugs disguised as security personnel.

In addition, Accord appealed to the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Peace Committee, civil society organisations and the media to closely monitor developments in Osun State and defend what it described as the constitutional rights of citizens.

The party maintained that it remained committed to peaceful, issue-based campaigning but warned that the alleged actions of security agencies posed a threat to democracy if left unchecked.

The Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi and the APC had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the Accord Party's statement as of the time of this report.