During a press briefing on Wednesday, spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi claimed the detainees were arrested without charges and unlawfully transferred from Osun State to Abuja. Among those detained is Chief Orija of Esa-Oke, an Accord Party candidate for Ilesa State Constituency.
"In the last few days, over 86 members of our political family have been arrested for no reason," Olajengbesi stated. "They were brought from Osun to Abuja and are being held without any explanation."
The campaign council has raised concerns over the lack of transparency, noting that police leadership has failed to provide justification for the arrests. "There is no petition against these individuals. They have committed no offense," Olajengbesi asserted.
He elaborated that Chief Orija was taken during a midnight raid at his home, while others have reportedly been moved to various correctional facilities without being arraigned in court. Additionally, allegations surfaced that the Osun State Secretary was arrested for “sensitizing people about the election.”
The council accused the Osun State Commissioner of Police of bias, alleging that he routinely targets known supporters of Governor Adeleke. "If the Commissioner of Police is overseeing security during this election, the process is already compromised," Olajengbesi warned.
He further claimed police officers pressured detainees to consider defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he described as unacceptable interference in the electoral process.
As tensions rise in Osun State ahead of the election, the Imole Campaign is urging the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Tinubu to intervene. "We want a credible election where people can exercise their franchise without intimidation or unlawful arrests," Olajengbesi concluded.
The allegations have yet to be independently verified, but they highlight the escalating political climate as parties accuse each other of using security agencies to intimidate opponents.
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