Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has claimed that over 60 Accord Party leaders were seized and taken to detention centers in Abuja and Nasarawa, bypassing the judicial systems available within Osun State. He raised these concerns during a peace summit in Osogbo held on Thursday to address the climate surrounding the upcoming August 15 governorship election.
In a social media statement, the Governor asserted that his administration and supporters have suffered under continuous aggression for three months. He placed responsibility for the unrest on Gboyega Oyetola, the former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. Adeleke expressed frustration that the Osun police force is allegedly enabling these acts of intimidation.
Specifically, the Governor cited the detention of figures like House of Representatives candidate Hon. Alaba, questioning why detainees were moved so far from local courts. He also highlighted the arrest of Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye, alleging the police acted without a valid warrant. Adeleke claimed that while eight people have been killed and many others injured in these clashes, no arrests or prosecutions of the alleged attackers have occurred, claiming that local APC members are responsible.
Adeleke petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to move the detained individuals back to Osun to face local charges if legitimate evidence exists. Furthermore, he requested that President Bola Tinubu intervene to stop Oyetola and the state police command from escalating the situation. These claims follow the arrest of Igbalaye and five others by police, who reported finding nearly five million naira and electoral items at a property associated with him.
