Osun election: Adeleke's team claims authorities are plotting a crackdown, but police deny the accusation

The Imole Campaign Council, which is spearheading the re-election bid of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has made a startling allegation that the state police command has compiled a list of 46 individuals slated for arrest prior to the August 15 governorship election.

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This list, according to the council, predominantly features individuals from Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area, with the Commissioner for Energy, Ademola Adeyemo, purportedly at the top of the list.

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Kolapo Alimi, the Deputy Director-General of the campaign council, also alleged that Taofeek Akinyemi, a chieftain of the Accord Party in Ikire who was reportedly shot by hoodlums, was taken into custody and detained after reporting the incident to the authorities.

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Furthermore, Alimi accused a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of colluding with the opposition to facilitate the mass arrest of Accord Party members in Ikire, which is purportedly part of a scheme to disrupt the party's campaign activities in the area.

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Alimi expressed grave concern over credible security reports indicating that a 'hit list' has been drawn up by political opponents in conjunction with compromised security operatives, targeting several leaders of the Accord Party and prominent opposition figures for systematic, unlawful arrests in the days leading up to the election.

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Specifically, Alimi confirmed that 46 individuals, including Ademola Adeyemo, Idris Idowu Jooda, Pastor Paul Akinola, Mukaila Yusuf, Dr Kazeem Atoba, Yesiru Olaniyi, Alhaji Olokeola, Wale Olunloye, Taye Adeyemo, Moshood Jolaiya, Lere Ogungbade, Kola Akinpelu, Tiri Adepoju, and Pastor Femi Oladiran, have been marked for arbitrary arrest, harassment, and forcible transfer to Abuja to keep them out of circulation during the election.

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Alimi demanded the immediate release of Akinyemi or his arraignment in court, and also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to direct the Osun State Police Command, the State Criminal Investigation Department, and special squads from Abuja to cease the arbitrary arrest and harassment of opposition leaders.

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Additionally, Alimi urged the Force Headquarters to review the deployment of security personnel to Osun ahead of the election to ensure that only professional, neutral, and impartial officers are deployed.

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In response to these allegations, the Osun State Police Command dismissed the claims, with the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, stating that operatives would continue to raid criminal hideouts across the state to protect lives and property.

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Ojelabi emphasized that the raids are not targeted at any individual, group, or political party, but rather at criminal hideouts, and that the police do not formulate lists of individuals for arrest, instead working with existing criminal records to constantly raid black spots and criminal hideouts.