Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Osun State Police Command has defended the arrest of the Accord Party's House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Popoola Alaba, insisting that the action was based on a criminal petition and not on political considerations, even as the Imole Campaign Council accused the police of unlawfully detaining the politician and demanded his immediate release. The command's position came after the council, which is coordinating Governor Ademola Adeleke's re-election campaign, alleged that Alaba and three other Accord members were forcibly taken away by police officers during a meeting with party canvassers on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Responding to the allegations, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said Alaba's arrest was carried out based on a petition dated July 4, which was addressed to the Inspector-General of Police and subsequently referred to the Osun State Police Command for investigation. According to Ojelabi, a joint team comprising operatives from Abuja and officers of the Osun State Police Command executed the operation. The police spokesperson alleged that four individuals who were with Alaba resisted the operation by attempting to free him from police custody and, in the process, attacked officers and damaged a police vehicle.
Earlier, the Imole Campaign Council, through a statement signed by the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Bamidele Salam, alleged that Alaba and three other Accord members were forcibly taken away by police officers while meeting party canvassers. The council claimed the arrested politician was subsequently moved to the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo and alleged that several party members were assaulted during the operation. It alleged that the arrest was politically motivated and accused Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, of orchestrating the action to prevent Alaba and other Accord leaders from participating in election activities. The council also claimed it had intelligence suggesting a meeting involving senior security officials preceded the arrests.
Reacting to the accusation, the media adviser to Senator Fadahunsi, Sam Segun-Progress, rejected the claims, describing them as baseless and unsupported by evidence. He maintained that the senator had no connection with Alaba's arrest or the police investigation. "We consider the statement to be unfortunate, reckless and completely devoid of credible evidence. For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Francis Fadahunsi has absolutely nothing to do with the allegations contained in the statement," Segun-Progress said. He added that linking the senator to the incident without verifiable proof was unfair and an attempt to damage his reputation.
The Imole Campaign Council had earlier, on Saturday, called for the immediate and unconditional release of Alaba, following his reported arrest. Salam alleged that the operation was carried out by police officers led by an officer identified as Wemimo, whom he described as part of the security team attached to Senator Fadahunsi. He claimed that Alaba and other Accord members were holding a meeting with party canvassers when security operatives stormed the venue, arrested them and allegedly assaulted several supporters. Salam further alleged that the arrests were politically motivated and aimed at preventing the Accord candidate and other party leaders from participating in the election.
The council also alleged that intelligence available to the campaign suggested the operation was linked to a recent meeting involving the senator, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, and another senior security official. "Credible intelligence at our disposal indicated that the arrest of Alaba is one of the outcome of a recent secret meeting between Senator Fadahunsi, the Osun Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Gotan, and another top security officer in the state, where leaders of Accord were drafted for arrest and detained unlawfully," the statement read. The campaign council warned that the Osun State Police Command and Commissioner Gotan would be held responsible if anything happened to the detained politician.
The arrest of Alaba comes amid heightened political tensions in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The Imole Campaign Council also accused the police of running political errands and hounding members of the Accord Party, alleging that a member of the party, Yomi Akanji, was shot dead by suspected political thugs close to his home in the Olude area of Osogbo on Friday evening. The police, however, maintained that Alaba's arrest was based on a petition dated July 4 bordering on illegal mining and other offences. As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command had not issued an official statement responding to the allegations or confirming the reported arrest.
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