Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday used the occasion of the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of the August 15 governorship election to accuse the police of partisanship, alleging that members of his party and government have been subjected to intimidation, unlawful arrests and politically motivated attacks in the last three months.
Speaking at the Peace Accord signing in Osogbo, Adeleke said he attended the event out of respect for members of the National Peace Committee despite what he described as sustained violence against his supporters.
The governor alleged that eight members of his party had been killed while more than 20 others sustained gunshot injuries during attacks he blamed on thugs allegedly linked to the opposition, claiming that no arrests or prosecutions had been made despite what he described as overwhelming evidence.
He further alleged that more than 60 members of the Accord political family, including senior government officials, had been arrested and transferred to Abuja and Nasarawa prisons without being charged before courts in Osun State.
Questioning the legality of the arrests, Adeleke wondered why suspects were being moved outside the state instead of being prosecuted in courts within Osun if they had committed any offence.
The governor called on the National Peace Committee to intervene by appealing to the Inspector-General of Police to return all detained political figures to Osun State and ensure that due process is followed.
Adeleke also urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, alleging that there was an alliance between the Osun APC and elements within the state police command aimed at intimidating opposition supporters ahead of the election.
He appealed for impartial policing and urged security agencies to remain neutral throughout the electoral process, stressing that voters must be allowed to freely determine the outcome of the election.
The governor maintained that despite the alleged provocations, his supporters had exercised restraint and refused to retaliate, insisting that their commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
While reaffirming his administration’s commitment to peaceful conduct, Adeleke warned against any attempt to manipulate the electoral process, saying Osun people were prepared to defend the sanctity of their votes through lawful means.
He concluded by expressing confidence in the readiness of the electorate for the August 15 governorship election and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to guarantee a credible, free and fair poll where the will of the people would prevail.
