Adeleke: Arresting Accord Party Leaders Before Election Amounts to Helping APC Rig Poll

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that the arrest of Accord Party leaders on the eve of an election would amount to the police assisting the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the election.

Adeleke made the allegation on Tuesday, during an emergency press briefing on what he described as two major developments on the Osun political landscape.

The governor said he had received reports of a police signal allegedly directing the immediate arrest of Accord Party leaders in the state, with instructions for them to be taken to Abuja and detained until Monday.

Adeleke said he had spoken with the Inspector-General of Police over the reported directive, but appealed to the police authorities to clarify the situation and assure Nigerians that no such order had been issued.

“Arresting Accord Party leaders on the eve of an election amounts to police helping and assisting the APC to rig the election,” Adeleke alleged.

He described any such directive as illegal and warned that arresting political party leaders shortly before an election on what he termed “trumped-up charges” would constitute a threat to democracy and the rule of law.

The governor also alleged that more than 62 Accord Party leaders were currently being held in police detention without charges.

“This is not democracy,” Adeleke said, while calling on the Inspector-General of Police to enforce due process and ensure fair policing in the state.

The governor further raised concerns over a viral video allegedly involving serving Senator Francis Fadahunsi, in which he claimed the senator called for the killing of Accord Party leaders and their family members.

According to Adeleke, the alleged comments have moved beyond ordinary political disagreements and now constitute a national security concern requiring the attention of the Federal Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Adeleke said he had raised the matter with the Inspector-General of Police and demanded an immediate investigation into the alleged video. He added that the police chief had confirmed the existence of the video and assured him that action would be taken.

The governor also called for the immediate stoppage of what he described as “illegal operations” of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), alleging that the unit had been arresting Accord Party members across local government areas in Osun State without justification.

He further called on the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate and, where appropriate, arrest Senator Fadahunsi over what he described as incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesaland and Osun State.

Adeleke urged security agencies to operate within the confines of the law before, during and after the forthcoming elections.

“We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun State,” the governor said.

He also appealed to the police and other security agencies to uphold their constitutional responsibilities and oath of office, stressing that the credibility of the electoral process depends on the neutrality and professionalism of security agencies.