Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has accused the State Police Command of selective policing and targeting its members ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The party’s position follows the police dismissal of allegations by the Imole Campaign Council that it had compiled a list of political figures for arrest before the governorship poll.
In a statement signed by the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, the party rejected the police’s explanation for recent raids and arrests, alleging that security operations were being used to intimidate its leaders and members rather than tackle criminal activities.
According to the Accord, “the police had departed from their constitutional responsibility by allegedly focusing on members of the party while failing to act against individuals it claimed were linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
The party alleged that individuals such as Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, and others allegedly connected to the APC had not been subjected to similar security operations despite facing criminal allegations. It further claimed that selective policing was undermining public confidence in the security agencies.
Referring to an incident in Ikire, Accord alleged that one of its members, Taofeeq Akinyemi, who was recently arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, had earlier been shot by an individual identified as Akinkunmi Alabi, also known as Ojuyobo.
The party claimed Akinyemi survived after receiving medical treatment and questioned why the alleged attacker had not been arrested.
Akande said, “As a political party, we very much support any effort that will put criminals away so as to guarantee a peaceful and free poll, but we will not accept the subtle attempt by the Police to brand the membership of Accord as being criminal.”
The Accord chairman urged the police to review their operations, release what the party described as political detainees, including Akinyemi, and ensure that policing remained impartial throughout the election period.
The Osun State Police Command has also maintained that their operations are strictly aimed at combating crime across the state.
The command denied the existence of any such list and insisted that its operations were not politically motivated.
Responding to the allegations, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, reiterated that the command had not drawn up any list of politicians for arrest and was not targeting any political party.
Ojelabi said, “We are raiding black spots and criminal hideouts every day to sanitise the environment for the forthcoming election, and this raid is not targeted at any individual, group of persons or political party. It is targeted at criminal hideouts. We don’t have any list anywhere; the police do not formulate any list.”
He added that the command would continue intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the state and advised parents to discourage their children from late-night movements and association with individuals with criminal records.
Ojelabi also noted that the proposed joint security task force announced by the state government had yet to commence operations.
Osun Guber: Accord challenges police operations, alleges selective arrest