Ahead of the August 15 Osun state governorship election, the Imole Campaign Council of Governor Ademola Adeleke on Monday stormed the national headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Abuja where they submitted a petition, alleging intimidation, human rights violations and politically motivated arrests.
The Adeleke’s campaign council called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure neutrality before, during and after the poll and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure that security agencies are not deployed as instruments of political intimidation.
Addressing journalists shortly after submitting the petition to the NHRC, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, accused the police of allegedly targeting members and supporters of the governor ahead of the election.
Olajengbesi further alleged that
several supporters of the campaign had been arrested and detained in police facilities across the country without lawful justification.
“This morning we came to the National Human Rights Commission to formally bring to its attention what we consider the reckless abuse of human rights currently taking place in Osun State simply because an election is around the corner.
“We want the Inspector-General of Police to assure Nigerians, especially the people of Osun State, that the August 15 governorship election will be free, fair and credible, and that the Nigeria Police Force still has the capacity to provide security without bias,” he said.
Olajengbesi alleged that following public outrage over what he described as arbitrary arrests of opposition supporters, the police authorities initially redeployed the Osun State Commissioner of Police, leading to the release of 26 detained members of the campaign.
He claimed that the officer had since been returned to the state after alleged pressure was mounted on the Inspector-General of Police.
“We were informed that after the Commissioner of Police was transferred, he was returned to Osun State following threats against the Inspector-General of Police. If that is true, it raises serious concerns about the independence of the police hierarchy,” he alleged.
