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Accord Party candidates for the National and State Assemblies in Osun State have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what they described as police harassment, intimidation, and persecution of Accord leaders and members ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking in Osogbo yesterday, Hon. Bamidele Salam, representing Ede Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, urged the President to direct the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and all heads of security agencies to act with neutrality, professionalism, and respect for the rule of law and constitutional rights in Osun before, during, and after the election.
Salam also demanded the immediate release of Mr Alaba Ibrahim Popoola, Accord’s House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South, Mr Sodig Akinola Olaniyan, described as a law student detained on allegations of cyberstalking, and all other persons arrested, according to the party, without lawful or reasonable grounds in parts of Osun.
Accord further demanded that the IGP launch an investigation into what it claimed was a collaboration between CP Gotan and Senator Fadahunsi to witch-hunt Accord leaders ahead of the election.
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The party also called for an independent probe into allegations of the importation of thugs, fake or unauthorised security personnel into Ijesa-land, and the unlawful issuance of arrest directives by Senator Francis Fadahunsi, allegedly in connivance with some elements in the Osun State Police Command.
Accord said it wants institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Peace Committee, the media, and other bodies to speak out and defend Osun residents, whom it described as peace-loving and facing what it termed an APC political siege supported by police officers.
The party also called on the IGP, the Police Service Commission, INEC, civil society organisations, the NHRC, and “all lovers of democracy” to closely monitor developments in Osun so that the alleged trends do not escalate into what it described as an assault on constitutional democracy.
