Osun 2026: Police deny ‘hit list’ claim as Accord alleges crackdown
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- The Osun State Governor's re-election campaign council accuses the police of creating a 'hit list' of 46 individuals for arrest before the August 15 governorship election.
- The campaign council claims the list targets opposition members, including a state commissioner, and alleges collusion between security operatives and the opposition to disrupt campaign activities.
- The police have denied the allegations, while the campaign council demands the release of an Accord chieftain and calls for a review of security deployments to ensure neutrality.
The campaign team for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused the state police command of compiling a list of 46 individuals, including a state commissioner, for arrest ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The Imole Campaign Council alleges this is a plot to suppress opposition activities, particularly in Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area.
Even more alarming are the credible security reports reaching the leadership of the Imole Campaign Council regarding a coordinated “hit list” drawn up by political opponents in collusion with compromised security operatives.
Kolapo Alimi, Deputy Director General of the campaign council and Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, stated that top on the alleged list is the Commissioner for Energy, Ademola Adeyemo. Alimi also cited the arrest and detention of Taofeek Akinyemi, a chieftain of the Accord party in Ikire, who was reportedly shot by hoodlums after reporting the incident to the police. The campaign council further accused a specific operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of collaborating with the opposition to orchestrate mass arrests of Accord members.
"Several leaders of the Accord and prominent opposition figures have been 'penned down' for systematic, unlawful arrests in the days leading up to the election," Alimi told journalists in Osogbo. He claimed that confirmed information indicates these 46 individuals are marked for "arbitrary arrest, harassment, and forcible transfer to Abuja to keep them out of circulation during the election." The campaign council provided a list of names, including Ademola Adeyemo, Idris Idowu Jooda, and Pastor Paul Akinola, among others.
Several leaders of the Accord and prominent opposition figures have been “penned down” for systematic, unlawful arrests in the days leading up to the election.
The campaign council demanded the immediate release or arraignment of Akinyemi and urged the Inspector General of Police to direct the Osun State Police Command and special squads from Abuja to halt the alleged arbitrary arrests and harassment. They also called for a review of security personnel deployed in Osun State to ensure professionalism and neutrality.
Specifically, we have confirmed information that the following individuals (46 in number) have been marked for arbitrary arrest, harassment, and forcible transfer to Abuja to keep them out of circulation during the election.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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