Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Federal High Court has ordered the immediate release of 16 members of the Accord Party who were arrested and illegally detained by the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly canvassing votes for Governor Ademola Adeleke during the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, in a ruling that has exposed the dangerous politicisation of law enforcement in Nigeria's fledgling democracy. The court also granted unconditional bail to Hon. Alaba Popoola, popularly known as Alabama, the Accord Party House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, who had been languishing in detention for 26 days without any credible allegation established against him. The rulings, secured on Friday, August 21, 2026, through the intervention of Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Governorship Campaign Council, represent a damning indictment of the police force's descent into political partisanship and a troubling omen for the 2027 general elections.
According to Olajengbesi, the 16 party members were arrested simply for canvassing votes for Governor Adeleke during the election, an act that is not only constitutionally protected but is the very essence of democratic participation. The arrests, he alleged, were carried out on the direct instructions of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, with the detainees subsequently transported by road to Abuja, Keffi and Suleja, where they were held without any established offence. "They were arrested simply for canvassing votes for Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun State during the just-concluded election. They were arrested allegedly on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State and driven by road to Abuja, Keffi and Suleja, where they were detained without any established offence," Olajengbesi stated. The court's intervention secured their release after they had spent approximately 24 hours in police custody, a period that, while brief, underscores the arbitrary nature of their detention and the ease with which state power can be weaponised against political opponents.
The case of Alaba Popoola is even more egregious. The Accord Party candidate was held for 26 days, a period that Olajengbesi described as "politically motivated and carried out at the instance of Senator Francis Fadahunsi". For nearly a month, Popoola was kept in detention without any credible allegation being established against him, a clear violation of his constitutional rights and a stark illustration of the police's willingness to act as an instrument of political retaliation. "For 26 days, Alabama was kept in detention without any credible allegation being established against him," Olajengbesi said. The court's decision to grant unconditional bail to Popoola is a tacit acknowledgment that his detention was not only unlawful but also a blatant abuse of state power designed to silence a political opponent and intimidate the opposition.
The ruling raises fundamental questions about the independence and professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force. The police, as an institution, has a constitutional duty to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law, not to serve as a tool for settling political scores. Olajengbesi's warning that "the Nigeria Police Force must never allow itself to become an instrument for settling political scores" strikes at the heart of the matter. The arrests in Osun State were not about crime prevention or public safety; they were about political suppression. By detaining Accord Party members for engaging in legitimate political activity, the police sent a chilling message to all Nigerians: dissent will not be tolerated, and those who support the opposition do so at their own peril. This is not policing; this is political thuggery dressed in a police uniform.
The Osun State governorship election, which saw Governor Adeleke secure a second term with 511,067 votes against the APC's Bola Oyebamiji's 444,815 votes, was already marred by violence and allegations of intimidation. The arrests of Accord Party members and the prolonged detention of Popoola add a disturbing layer to the electoral narrative, suggesting that the police were not neutral arbiters but active participants in a campaign to undermine the opposition. The fact that the arrests were allegedly ordered by the Commissioner of Police in Osun State and that Popoola's detention was allegedly instigated by Senator Fadahunsi points to a coordinated effort to use state apparatus to weaken the Accord Party's electoral prospects. This is a dangerous precedent that, if left unchecked, could have devastating consequences for Nigeria's democracy.
The judiciary, in this instance, has emerged as the last line of defence against arbitrary detention and abuse of state power. Olajengbesi commended the court for "standing as a safeguard against arbitrary detention and abuse of state power". However, the judiciary cannot be expected to correct every abuse of power by the executive. The police must be held accountable for their actions, and those responsible for ordering and carrying out these illegal arrests must face disciplinary action. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who has publicly warned politicians against recruiting youths for violence, must now demonstrate that his warnings apply to his own officers. The police must not only release political detainees but also investigate and punish those who orchestrated these arrests. Failure to do so will only embolden the police to continue their partisan activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ruling also has significant implications for the 2027 general elections. If the police can arrest and detain political opponents on flimsy grounds, then the credibility of the electoral process is severely compromised. Voters must be able to support their preferred candidates without fear of harassment or detention by state security forces. The court's intervention in the Osun cases is a welcome development, but it is not a substitute for systemic reform. The police must be depoliticised and professionalised, and officers who engage in political partisanship must be held accountable. The Inspector-General of Police must send a clear message that the police will not be used as a tool for political repression, and that those who violate the rights of citizens will face the full weight of the law.
The release of the 16 Accord Party members and the unconditional bail granted to Alaba Popoola are victories for the rule of law and a testament to the resilience of Nigeria's judiciary. However, they are also a stark reminder of the fragility of democracy in Nigeria and the ease with which state institutions can be weaponised against political opponents. The police must not be allowed to become an instrument of political warfare, and the judiciary must remain vigilant in protecting the rights of citizens. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, the lessons of Osun must not be forgotten. The police must be impartial, the courts must be independent, and the rights of all citizens must be protected. Anything less is a betrayal of the democratic ideals that Nigerians have fought so hard to achieve.
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