…calls for immediate release of commissioner
The Imole Campaign Council of the Accord Party has alleged that the arrest and intimidation of some of its leaders in Ijesaland were part of an attempt to weaken the party ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
The campaign council made the allegation on Saturday at a press conference addressed by its spokesperson, Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, who expressed concern over what he described as a pattern of arrests of Accord leaders and supporters in the area.
Olajengbesi said the latest incident involved the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, a native of Ikiyinwa in Obokun Local Government Area.
He described the manner of Adejoorin’s arrest as disturbing, alleging that the commissioner was taken away under the cover of police authority.
According to the campaign council, prominent Accord leaders and supporters in Ijesaland had repeatedly been arrested over allegations it described as politically motivated, claiming that the arrests had kept the affected persons away from their families, communities and campaign activities.
The council alleged that the development could be an attempt to weaken Accord’s political structure in Ijesaland ahead of the governorship election.
It also expressed concern over the alleged involvement of the Osun State Police Command, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to urgently intervene and investigate what it described as a pattern of arrests involving Accord leaders.
The campaign council demanded explanations from the police on the circumstances surrounding Adejoorin’s arrest, the offence he allegedly committed and the evidence against him.
It also called for the immediate release of the commissioner, insisting that there was no lawful and credible basis for his detention.
Olajengbesi said the Accord Party would not be intimidated by the arrests, insisting that the people of Ijesaland had the constitutional right to freely choose their preferred candidate in the election.
The campaign council also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, civil society organisations and election observers to pay close attention to developments in Ijesaland ahead of the August 15 poll.
It urged INEC to ensure that accredited political parties and their agents were allowed to participate fully in the electoral process without intimidation.
The council further appealed to the police leadership to demonstrate its commitment to professionalism, democracy and the rule of law during the election period.
