Osun poll: Adeleke’s camp alleges planned clampdown, police dismiss claim

The Imole Campaign Council, spearheading the re-election bid of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has accused the state police command of planning a mass clampdown ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The council alleges that a list of 46 individuals, including a serving commissioner, has been compiled for arrest. These individuals are reportedly from Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area.

According to Kolapo Alimi, Deputy Director-General of the campaign council, the Commissioner for Energy, Ademola Adeyemo, is at the top of this alleged "hit list." Alimi further claimed that a chieftain of the Accord Party in Ikire, Taofeek Akinyemi, was arrested and detained after reporting an incident where he was reportedly shot by hoodlums. The campaign also accused an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of collaborating with the opposition to facilitate the arrests and disrupt the party's campaign activities.

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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.

"Several leaders of the Accord Party and prominent opposition figures have been ‘penned down’ for systematic, unlawful arrests in the days leading up to the election," Alimi stated, adding that confirmed information indicates these 46 individuals are marked for arbitrary arrest, harassment, and transfer to Abuja to remove them from circulation during the election. The campaign council demanded Akinyemi's immediate release or arraignment.

In response, the Osun State Police Command has dismissed the allegations. The campaign council urged the Inspector-General of Police to direct the Osun State Police Command and other security units to halt the alleged arbitrary arrests and harassment of opposition leaders. They also called for a review of security personnel deployment to ensure professionalism and impartiality.

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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.