Osun state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has raised a fresh alarm over alleged plan by police to arrest key leaders of the Accord Party ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election.
The governor revealed that part of the plan was to pick up his party leaders and moved them to Abuja as part of the game to weaken the party before the election.
The alarm was contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to the media.
The statement read in part ‘I call you today for a briefing on two major developments on the Osun political landscape.
“We have credible reports that a police signal has arrived in Osun directing immediate arrest of Accord Party leaders. We also know the directive includes that they should be taken to Abuja immediately and should not be released until Monday.
“I have spoken to the Inspector General of Police about the reported directive to arrest Accord Party leaders. But I am appealing to him that this development, if true, is illegal, and presents Nigeria as a lawless country.
“Arresting Accord Party leaders on the eve of an election amounts to police helping and assisting the APC to rig the election.
“I task the IGP to issue a statement to assure Nigerians that no order has been given to arrest Accord Party leaders in Osun State. It is illegal and a threat to democracy for Accord Party leaders to be arrested on the eve of an election on trumped up charges.
“It is disturbing that we still have over 62 Accord Party leaders held in illegal police detention without any charges against them. This is not democracy.
“The second issue has to do with the viral video of a serving senator, Francis Fadahunsi who today called for the killing of Accord Party leaders and their families.
“In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children.
“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the office of the National Security Adviser.
“I have raised this issue with the IGP and demanded for the immediate investigation and arrest of Senator Fadahunsi. The IGP has confirmed the video and assured of immediate action.
“We request that the the IGP should stop the illegal operations of IRT, a team that has been arresting Accord Party leaders across the local governments for no just reason;
“We ask that the police and the DSS immediately arrest Senator Fadahunsi for his incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesahland and Osun state. This is to prove to the world that Nigeria is a state governed by the rule of law.
‘We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun state.
“We finally request that the police and other security agencies should act in line with the rule of law and their oath of office before, during and after these coming elections”, the statement said.
