The Osun State Police Command has stated that the detention of Popoola Alaba, an Accord House of Representatives candidate for the Ijesa South Federal Constituency, is rooted in a formal criminal complaint rather than political bias. DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the Police Public Relations Officer, explained that the operation followed a July 4 petition sent to the Inspector-General of Police and forwarded to the state command for inquiry.
A combined task force from Abuja and Osun carried out the arrest. Ojelabi noted that four other individuals were apprehended for allegedly attacking officers and causing damage to a police vehicle while attempting to hinder the arrest. These comments follow accusations from the Imole Campaign Council, which claimed the arrest was an illegal, politically driven act orchestrated to disrupt election campaigns. The council further alleged that Senator Francis Fadahunsi was involved in coordinating the event.
Sam Segun-Progress, a media aide for Senator Fadahunsi, dismissed these claims as unfounded and malicious. He stated that the senator has no involvement in the police investigation and described the accusations as an unfair attempt to harm the senator’s standing.
