Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The candidates of the Accord Party for National and State Assembly elections in Osun State have raised a grave alarm over what they described as a dangerous pattern of politically motivated arrests and harassment of their members by the Osun State Police Command, warning that democracy in the state is under threat just weeks before the August 15 governorship election. At a press conference held in Osogbo on Sunday, July 26, 2026, the party's candidates, led by Honourable Bamidele Salam, the Accord candidate for Ede Federal Constituency, accused the police of abandoning due process and lending itself to partisan interests by targeting prominent leaders through frivolous arrests and trumped-up allegations.
The Accord candidates cited the arrest of the party's House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Popoola Alaba, as the latest and most disturbing example of the alleged pattern of political intimidation. According to Salam, Alaba was arrested and reportedly transferred to Abuja without the police disclosing the identity of the petitioner or clarifying whether he had been invited to respond to the allegations before his arrest. "Is invitation no longer part of criminal investigation? Has due process been completely abandoned whenever any of our party leaders is involved?" Salam asked. The party also condemned the arrest of Barrister Olaniyan Sodiq, a legal practitioner and Accord operative in Ward 4, Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area, who was allegedly detained after challenging what he considered unlawful interference by an APC leader in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards by INEC. "Rather than investigate the reported interference, the Police chose to arrest the citizen who raised the alarm," Salam stated.
The Accord candidates further alleged a plot involving the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Gotan, and Senator Francis Fadahunsi to begin "systematically hounding" Accord leaders, with Senatorial candidate Hon. Ibukun Fadipe and other Ijesa leaders allegedly marked for arrest in the coming days. They claimed to have received intelligence suggesting a planned crackdown on more party leaders, including labour leaders in the state, describing such a move as an attack on democratic freedoms. The party linked the development to growing frustration within the APC, which it said is seeing "the unmistakable mood of the electorate and increasing rejection." Salam insisted that Accord remains committed to peaceful and issue-based politics, but warned that intimidation would not weaken the party's support base. "Let it be known that support earned through responsible governance cannot be criminalised," he said.
In their demands, the Accord candidates called on President Bola Tinubu to direct all security agencies to remain neutral, professional and committed to the rule of law before, during and after the Osun governorship election. They also urged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to urgently intervene by investigating the alleged collaboration between CP Gotan and Senator Fadahunsi. The party further demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Popoola Alaba, Barrister Olaniyan Sodiq, and others allegedly detained without lawful justification. They also called for an independent probe into claims of importation of hoodlums and unauthorised security personnel into Ijesa-land. The party appealed to the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Peace Committee, civil society organisations, and the media to closely monitor developments in Osun State and safeguard democratic rights.
Reacting to the allegations, Senator Fadahunsi's media adviser, Sam Segun-Progress, dismissed the claims, saying the lawmaker's grassroots popularity was responsible for the concern among his political opponents. "Fadahunsi's grassroots appeal has always intimidated the opposition during every election season. Similar lies were screamed to the high heavens in 2014," Segun-Progress said. "Is it not strange that those who once defended Fadahunsi against such lies are now the ones inventing today's falsehoods? Fadahunsi remains committed to democratic ideals and massive voter mobilisation, which is making his opponents panic and fabricate lies in preparation for their impending defeat," he added. The Osun State Police Command had earlier said Popoola Alaba was arrested over a petition dated July 4 alleging his involvement in illegal mining.
The allegations come amid heightened political tensions in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with rising cases of political killings, thug attacks and destruction of campaign materials, bill boards and party flags and offices of opponents by sponsored thugs. The Accord Party's accusations of police partisanship and political persecution have added a new layer of tension to the electoral contest, as the party called on the international community to also pay attention to what it described as a dangerous pattern of harassment aimed at frustrating opposition. The party reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful, issue-based and democratic participation in the forthcoming elections, but warned that history would judge institutions and individuals by the roles they play during the electoral process.
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