Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have exchanged accusations over alleged police interference, political protests and plans to disrupt voting ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The latest dispute followed separate statements issued on Monday by the Imole Campaign Council, TICC, which is backing Adeleke’s re-election bid, and the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council.
Both sides accused the other of attempting to manipulate security and electoral institutions ahead of the August 15 poll.
TICC in separate statements by Bamidele Salam, Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee and Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson, rejected the APC’s allegation that Adeleke was planning to blackmail the Nigeria Police Force through a protest by hired women, describing the claim as unfounded.
The campaign council alleged that the APC had used the police to intimidate and harass political opponents during the election period. It further claimed that at least six of its members had been killed and several others injured during political violence.
“It is nothing but mischief for the APC that has unleashed unimaginable violence on Osun people, killing no fewer than six of our members, to turn around to blame the victim,” TICC said.
The council also alleged that more than 60 Accord Party members had been arrested by the police without justification, while accusing the security agency of treating APC members involved in alleged violence differently.
TICC claimed that “some Accord members had been arrested from their homes and alleged that security personnel had escorted suspected political thugs.”
It cited a viral video which it said appeared to show a police operative handing a firearm to a political thug in Ilesa.
The campaign council called on Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to intervene and ensure what it described as fair and neutral policing before the election.
“We totally reject the overt attempt by the Police to influence the August 15 governorship poll through coercion and unlawful arrests of Accord leaders and members,” the council said.
Separately, TICC alleged that the APC was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to end voting by 12pm in selected local government areas during Saturday’s election.
According to the campaign council, the alleged plan targeted areas considered political strongholds of Adeleke, with the aim of suppressing votes and disenfranchising eligible voters.
“We therefore call on INEC to resist every form of political pressure and strictly adhere to its established voting procedures and timelines,” TICC spokesman Pelumi Olajengbesi said.
The council urged INEC to ensure that no polling unit was arbitrarily closed while eligible voters who arrived within the stipulated voting period were waiting to vote. It also called on election observers, civil society organisations, international bodies and the media to monitor the process.
The APC, however, dismissed the allegations against it and accused Adeleke and the Accord Party of attempting to blackmail the police through a planned protest involving vulnerable women.
The APC campaign council in a statement by Engr Oluremi Omowaiye
Head, Media and Publicity Committee, alleged that some women had been recruited to protest at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo, claiming some had been instructed to protest half-naked.
“Intelligence available to us reveals a preplanned, highly provocative plot to hire vulnerable women—some of whom have been instructed to protest half-naked—and march them to the State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo,” the APC said.
The APC maintained that the police were investigating individuals suspected of involvement in electoral violence and urged security agencies to remain professional ahead of the election.
It also called on its supporters to remain calm and law-abiding as Osun voters prepare to cast their ballots on August 15.
Osun Poll: Adeleke, APC clash over police interference, voting disruption plot allegations