Accord Petitions Tinubu, Police Chief Over Alleged Harassment Ahead of Osun Election

The Accord party has lodged a formal complaint with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, alleging a pattern of harassment, intimidation, and arrest targeting its members and government officials. These actions, the party claims, are occurring in the lead-up to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

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100 of its leaders, candidates, members and supporters had been arrested and detained

Central to Accord's grievance is the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan. The party has renewed its demand for his immediate removal, accusing him of partisanship. Accord asserts that Gotan's continued presence could jeopardize the credibility of the upcoming governorship poll.

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the actions of the police amounted to an assault on Nigeria’s democracy and could compromise the integrity of the forthcoming governorship election.

Maxwell Mgbudem, the National Chairman of Accord, stated that approximately 100 of the party's leaders, candidates, members, and supporters have been arrested and detained across the state, with some allegedly transferred to Abuja. Mgbudem described these police actions as an assault on Nigeria's democracy and a potential compromise to the election's integrity. He noted that previous complaints about attacks on the party's campaign council, offices, supporters, and materials were ignored by security agencies.

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Accord is peacefully carrying out its grassroots campaign for the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Accord maintains that the police's alleged inaction regarding previous attacks on its campaign infrastructure and personnel fueled its earlier call for the Commissioner's removal. The party condemned the targeted harassment and arrests, asserting they are politically motivated to weaken its campaign. Accord urged its supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite the provocations and called on President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, civil society organizations, and the international community to intervene.

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It is glaring that their arrests are politically motivated, to frustrate, weaken and dampen our party’s campaign efforts in Osun State