Follow Us on Google
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo descended into chaos yesterday as political tensions build ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, was in Osun State to engage with key stakeholders. His visit included a stop in Ile-Ife on Tuesday, where he met with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other traditional rulers, assuring them of a credible, free, fair and transparent election.
However, the situation turned volatile during the stakeholders’ gathering yesterday.
Trouble began when the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, was invited to speak and was met with loud boo from sections of the crowd, wearing yellow colour of the Accord Party.
The disturbance followed an earlier warning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding alleged plots to disrupt the INEC chairman’s visit.
Oluremi Omowaiye, Head of the Media and Publicity Committee for the APC Campaign, claimed the party received intelligence that members of the Accord Party planned to stage a protest.
According to the APC, the demonstration was intended to derail the engagement and demand the removal of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The party further alleged that the protest was being sponsored by Yeyeluwa Dupe Adeleke, the elder sister of Governor Ademola Adeleke, claiming it involved mobilising hoodlums from Ede and Osogbo alongside women dressed semi-nude.
The atmosphere grew even more chaotic later in the programme when the member representing the Ede Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Head of Media, Accord Party Campaign Council, Bamidele Salam, took the floor to speak and was similarly booed by individuals suspected to be APC members, further disrupting the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the state government has raised the alarm over what it described as a systematic invasion, attacks and targeted raids on the homes of top government officials by the Osun State Police Command.
The latest incident, according to the government, involved a dawn raid on the residence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, alleged that a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, forcefully entered the SSG’s residence, whisking away family members to an unknown destination.
Other News
According to the government, this “Gestapo-style” operation followed similar raids and arrests targeting the residences of at least six commissioners and other senior functionaries.
“At the time of the invasion on the SSG’s home, the official was attending a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while his ward officials were holding a meeting within the compound,” Alimi said.
The government noted that the incidents built a pattern of escalating aggression, including a raid on the Commissioner for Energy’s home in Ikire, where properties were allegedly ransacked and destroyed.
He alleged that five other commissioners had similarly reported their homes being shadowed or breached, with no illegal items found.
According to Alimi, reports indicated that several members of the Accord Party were being detained in Criminal Investigation Department (CID) cells at the State Command without bail.
In a statement, he condemned the actions saying, “These raids on the SSG and our commissioners are an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun State.
“This campaign of repression constitutes a grave danger to democracy and reflects reprehensible, unprofessional conduct by the police in support of the state APC. The police have become a major threat to the conduct of a free and fair election in Osun State.”
The state government appealed to traditional rulers, the Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt the targeted violence before it leads to a total breakdown of law and order.
While noting that Governor Ademola Adeleke has continuously urged citizens to remain calm, the government warned that the situation was reaching a boiling point.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the operation at the SSG’s residence and the subsequent arrests.
“It is true that based on intelligence, the house of the SSG was raided by police operatives and six persons were arrested along with exhibits. Four of them have been screened and discovered not to be involved; they will be released. That is all I can say for now,” Ojelabi stated.
However, a reliable police source confirmed that efforts were underway to secure the release of the remaining detained individuals.
Sources further indicated that the suspects were allegedly apprehended alongside items related to electoral materials.
