AbdulRofiu Agboola, Osogbo
The Imole Campaign Council has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly using security agencies to intimidate members of the ruling Accord Party ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Addressing journalists during an emergency press conference on Sunday, the Deputy Director-General of the council, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, alleged that the political atmosphere in the state, particularly in Ikire, had become increasingly tense due to what he described as politically motivated arrests and harassment of opposition members.
Alimi specifically alleged that a key Accord Party stakeholder, Mr. Taofeek Akinyemi, was arrested by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on Saturday without a valid warrant or any known offence.
According to him, Akinyemi had earlier survived a gun attack allegedly carried out by suspected APC thugs and was later arrested after posting a video of the incident on social media while identifying those he claimed were responsible.
The campaign council described the arrest as unlawful and demanded Akinyemi’s immediate release or, alternatively, his arraignment before a court if any legitimate charges existed against him.
Beyond the arrest, the council alleged that it had received intelligence reports indicating that dozens of Accord Party leaders and supporters had been marked for arrest and possible transfer to Abuja before the governorship election in a bid to weaken the party’s campaign structure.
Alimi listed over 40 party leaders and supporters whom he claimed were on the alleged “hit list” for arbitrary arrest and harassment.
The council also accused some security personnel of partisanship, alleging that an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), identified as Ola Abbas, alongside other individuals, was involved in the alleged intimidation of opposition figures in Ikire and surrounding communities.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and the Commandant General of the NSCDC to investigate the allegations and ensure that security agencies remain neutral before, during and after the election.
Among its demands, the council urged the police authorities to halt what it described as politically motivated arrests, investigate alleged abuses by security personnel, and redeploy officers considered neutral to guarantee a peaceful electoral process.
The council further appealed to Accord Party supporters and residents of the state to remain peaceful, avoid violence, and continue to exercise their constitutional rights without fear.
The APC and the Osun State Police Command were yet to react to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
