By John Dike, Osogbo
The Imole Campaign Council for the Accord Party governorship candidate in Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday raised the alarm over what it described as an increasingly tense political atmosphere ahead of the August 15 governorship election, alleging that security agencies were being used to intimidate opposition members and suppress democratic participation.
While addressing journalists at an emergency press conference in Osogbo, the council called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tunji Disu, the leadership of other security agencies and the international community to closely monitor developments in the state, warning that the alleged actions of some security operatives could undermine the credibility of the forthcoming election.
Speaking on behalf of the campaign council, its Deputy Director-General and Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, alleged that the political climate in parts of the state, particularly Ikire and its environs, had become increasingly volatile due to what he described as politically motivated arrests and intimidation of opposition figures.
According to Alimi, the council had received what it described as credible intelligence indicating that 46 Accord Party leaders and prominent supporters had been identified for arbitrary arrest and possible transfer to Abuja before the governorship election.
He alleged that the planned arrests were intended to weaken the Accord Party’s political structure, instill fear among supporters and influence the outcome of the election.
“We have confirmed information that 46 individuals have been marked for arbitrary arrest, harassment and forcible transfer to Abuja to keep them out of circulation during the election,” Alimi told journalists.
He alleged that the planned operation formed part of a broader strategy to intimidate members of the ruling party in the state and frustrate their participation in the electoral process.
The campaign council also alleged that one of its key supporters, Mr. Taofeek Akinyemi, was unlawfully arrested by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on Saturday.
According to the council, Akinyemi had earlier survived a gun attack in Ikire and later posted a video of the incident on social media in which he allegedly identified those he believed were responsible for the attack.
Alimi claimed that rather than investigating those allegedly responsible for the shooting, security operatives arrested Akinyemi after the video was published online.
Describing the arrest as unlawful, he insisted that Akinyemi had committed no known offence and called for his immediate release.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Taofeek Akinyemi or that he should be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction if there is any legitimate allegation against him,” Alimi said.
He further alleged that the arrest violated the constitutional rights of the Accord Party supporter, insisting that it amounted to political persecution.
The campaign council accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly using security agencies to harass opposition figures ahead of the election.
According to Alimi, the alleged intimidation campaign reflected what he described as the desperation of the opposition to secure electoral victory.
“The APC and its desperate agents are using the police force not as a shield for the public but as a weapon of oppression against opposition political figures,” he alleged.
The campaign council also claimed that intelligence reports linked some individuals identified as Ola Abbas, Adeboye Opeyemi and another person known simply as “General” to the alleged harassment of Accord Party members.
It alleged that the individuals were working alongside compromised security personnel to monitor, intimidate and target opposition stakeholders in Ikire and other parts of Osun State.
Alimi further accused an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), identified as Ola Abbas, of participating in partisan political activities, an allegation he said was contrary to the statutory responsibilities of the corps.
According to him, the officer had allegedly become involved in political operations instead of carrying out his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and critical national assets.
The council called on the Commandant-General of the NSCDC to investigate the allegation and take appropriate disciplinary action if found culpable.
It also urged the Inspector-General of Police to institute an independent investigation into the activities of the named individuals and any security personnel allegedly involved in the reported operations.
Among its demands, the campaign council called for the immediate release of Taofeek Akinyemi, an end to what it described as arbitrary arrests and political harassment of opposition members, and the establishment of an independent panel to investigate allegations of abuse of office by security personnel.
The council also urged the Police High Command to review security deployments in Osun State ahead of the governorship election to ensure that only officers who would discharge their duties professionally and impartially were assigned election responsibilities.
Alimi appealed to members of the Accord Party and residents of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite what he described as provocation.
He urged party supporters not to resort to violence but to remain vigilant and continue to exercise their democratic rights peacefully.
He also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the leadership of other security agencies and relevant institutions to ensure that security personnel remained neutral throughout the election.
According to him, the credibility of the August 15 governorship election would depend largely on the professionalism and impartiality of the security agencies deployed for the exercise.
The campaign council further urged the international community, civil society organisations and election observers to pay close attention to developments in Osun State before, during and after the election.
