Osun Election: Accord Party alleges police harassment, command denies claims

The Accord Party in Osun State has accused the state police command of political harassment and intimidation of its members. The party is calling on President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to investigate these alleged actions.

Hon. Bamidele Salam, representing the Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, voiced the party's concerns. He highlighted the arrest of Popoola Alaba, the Accord Party's candidate for the Ijesa South Federal Constituency, as evidence of a pattern of harassment targeting party leaders and members. Salam suggested this activity is designed to intimidate the party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

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We want to draw the attention of Nigerians, the Inspector-General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and the international community to what has become a dangerous pattern of harassment and politically motivated arrests of leaders and members of our party by the Osun State Police Command.

The lawmaker expressed worry that security personnel might be collaborating with political actors to suppress the Accord Party. He criticized the police for allegedly being used for political purposes, stating that arrests based on petitions against party members threaten peace and democratic values. Salam urged President Tinubu to intervene and ensure security agencies maintain neutrality and professionalism.

However, the Osun State Police Command has refuted the claims of politically motivated arrests. DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command's spokesperson, stated that Alaba's arrest was a direct result of a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, which was then forwarded to the state Commissioner of Police for investigation. Ojelabi asserted that the action was solely based on the petition and unrelated to political activities.

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The action was based on the petition and not connected to political activities.