Osun 2026: Adeleke Accuses Police, Oyetola of Plotting to Rig Election, Appeals to Peace Committee

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday accused the Nigeria Police Force of partisan conduct and alleged political persecution of members of the Accord Party, calling on the National Peace Committee to intervene to prevent further escalation of tensions ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Speaking at the Peace Summit on the forthcoming governorship poll in Osogbo, Adeleke said he attended the meeting despite what he described as sustained violence and intimidation against his administration, party members and supporters over the past three months.

The governor said he had contemplated boycotting the peace meeting but decided to attend out of respect for members of the National Peace Committee and their efforts to ensure peaceful elections.

According to him, while the summit was convened to promote peace, Osun State has continued to witness what he termed "police-sanctioned violence and intimidation," alleging that the Osun State Police Command had openly supported the opposition APC.

Adeleke further alleged that eight members of his party had been killed and more than 20 others injured in separate gun attacks in the last three months, claiming that no arrests or prosecutions had been made despite what he described as overwhelming video evidence identifying the perpetrators.

The governor also raised concerns over the arrest and detention of members of the Accord Party, alleging that more than 60 members remained in police custody without being charged to court.

He cited the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Teslim Igbalaye, alleging that security operatives raided his residence without a court-issued search warrant before detaining him overnight.

Adeleke further claimed that several senior government officials had been subjected to harassment, while dozens of party leaders were allegedly transferred to Abuja and remanded in correctional facilities in Abuja and Nasarawa State, including a House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Alaba.

Questioning the legality of the arrests, the governor asked why suspects from Osun were being moved outside the state despite the presence of competent courts within Osun.

He appealed to the National Peace Committee to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to return all detained party members to Osun State and, where necessary, prosecute them before courts with proper jurisdiction.

The governor also alleged that a known APC thug had recently been aided by security operatives to take control of motor parks and garages across the state, warning that there was an alleged plot to unleash violence before, during and after the governorship election.

Adeleke urged the Peace Committee to engage President Bola Tinubu to halt what he described as the activities of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, the Osun APC and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, whom he accused of contributing to rising political tension in the state.

He called on the police to remain neutral and emulate other security agencies, which he described as professional and impartial in the discharge of their duties.

The governor reaffirmed his administration's commitment to peaceful conduct despite the alleged provocations, stating that his supporters had refrained from retaliation because of their belief in the rule of law.

While insisting that the people of Osun were prepared for the August 15 governorship election, Adeleke called for impartial policing, a fair electoral process and respect for the will of voters at the polls.

He thanked the National Peace Committee for its intervention and efforts to promote peaceful elections in the state.