Adeleke’s Camp Alleges Planned Clampdown Ahead of Osun Election

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The Imole Campaign Council, which is leading the re-election campaign of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday alleged that the state police command had drawn up a list of 46 people, including a serving commissioner, to be arrested ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The Deputy Director-General of the campaign council, Kolapo Alimi, accused the Commissioner for Energy, Ademola Adeyemo, of being part of the list. He also mentioned several other individuals, including a chieftain of the Accord Party in Ikire, Taofeek Akinyemi, who had reported an alleged shooting by hoodlums to the police and was subsequently arrested and detained.

The council further accused an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of working with the opposition to facilitate the mass arrest of Accord Party members in Ikire as part of an alleged plot to disrupt the party's campaign activities in the area.

Alimi demanded the immediate release of Akinyemi or his arraignment in court. He also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to direct the Osun State Police Command, the State Criminal Investigation Department and special squads from Abuja to stop what he described as the arbitrary arrest and harassment of opposition leaders, including those allegedly marked for transfer to Abuja.

Responding, the Osun State Police Command dismissed the allegations through its Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi. Ojelabi said operatives would continue to raid criminal hideouts across the state to protect lives and property.

The police spokesperson claimed the raid was not targeted at any individual, group of persons or political party. He further stated that the police do not formulate any list and are only working with criminal records.

The state government had promised to set up a joint task force to help with the election security, but no progress has been made so far, Ojelabi claimed.

The Osun State Police Command has been accused of planning to arrest opposition leaders, including serving politicians, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Kolapo Alimi, the Deputy Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, made this allegation on Sunday during a press conference in Osogbo.

Alimi claimed that the Commissioner for Energy, Ademola Adeyemo, was among those marked for arrest. He also mentioned several other individuals, including Taofeek Akinyemi, a chieftain of the Accord Party in Ikire, who was reportedly shot by hoodlums and then arrested and detained after reporting the incident to the police.

The council further accused an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of working with the opposition to facilitate the mass arrest of Accord Party members in Ikire as part of an alleged plot to disrupt the party's campaign activities in the area.

The police, however, dismissed the allegations, claiming that they are only working with criminal records and have no list of individuals to arrest.

The Osun State government has promised to set up a joint task force to help with the election security, but no progress has been made so far, according to the police.

Adeleke is seeking re-election in the August 15 governorship election.

He won the 2022 election but his victory was overturned by the state's governorship election tribunal, which ordered a rerun.

The election tribunal had ruled that Adeleke did not possess the educational qualifications required to contest the election.

Adeleke appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal later upheld his victory.

The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has accused the government of planning to rig the election by arresting opposition leaders.

The party described the alleged plan as a 'plot to muzzled the opposition'.

The Osun State chapter of the People's Democratic Party has also condemned the alleged plan, describing it as a 'dangerous development'.

The party urged the Inspector-General of Police to intervene and prevent the alleged clampdown.

The Osun State government has not commented on the allegations.

The police have however promised to ensure a peaceful and secure election.

The Osun State Police Command is led by the Commissioner of Police, Olawale Owohunwa.

Owohunwa has been the Commissioner of Police in Osun State since 2023.

He was previously the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Owohunwa has a Master's degree in Public Administration from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.

He has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Ilorin.

Owohunwa was appointed a Senior Officer in 2020.

He was later promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2022.

Owohunwa has received several awards for his service, including the Police Medal of Honour.

He has also participated in several peacekeeping operations, including those in the Niger Delta region.

The Osun State government has promised to ensure a peaceful and secure election.

The government has also promised to provide adequate security for all parties, including the opposition.

The government has however not commented on the allegations of planned clampdown.

The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has accused the government of planning to rig the election by arresting opposition leaders.

The party described the alleged plan as a 'plot to muzzled the opposition'.

The Osun State chapter of the People's Democratic Party has also condemned the alleged plan, describing it as a 'dangerous development'.

The party urged the Inspector-General of Police to intervene and prevent the alleged clampdown.

Alimi called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to direct the Osun State Police Command, the State Criminal Investigation Department and special squads from Abuja to stop what he described as the arbitrary arrest and harassment of opposition leaders, including those allegedly marked for transfer to Abuja.

Ojelabi, the police spokesperson, claimed that operatives would continue to raid criminal hideouts across the state to protect lives and property.