Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on 11 August raised allegations of police interference in the upcoming governorship election, saying seven Accord members had been killed, more than 20 injured by gunfire and over 60 detained.
Adeleke made the allegations at an Arise TV town hall meeting for candidates contesting the poll. He said four Accord leaders were arrested and accused the police of taking part in plans to rig the election.
“On a daily basis, the police are arresting my members. Yesterday alone, four Accord leaders were again arrested. I’ve lost seven members of my party, with over 20 suffering various gun injuries. Over 60 Accord members are in various illegal police detention,” Adeleke said.
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The allegations came four days before voters are due to choose Osun’s governor, making security conduct a major issue in Adeleke’s account of the election.
He said he had written to President Bola Tinubu and Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu about the situation.
“The job of the police is to provide security, not to interfere in the electoral process. I am asking for a free and fair election. Nothing more,” he said.
Governor asks for an even field
Adeleke’s complaint was not limited to arrests. He said the police should protect the electoral process and provide security without taking sides.
He also spoke about the recent freeze of government accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, saying he was grateful for presidential intervention.
The governor said he had been assured of a level playing field ahead of the election.
His appeal came at a forum where he also presented his record in office and explained why he wants another term.
Adeleke won the 2022 governorship election on the Peoples Democratic Party platform. He is now seeking re-election under the Accord Party after leaving the PDP.
He said leaving the party was painful.
“I love PDP so much, and it was difficult to leave. I would have run as an independent candidate in this election if it were allowed in Nigeria,” he said.
The governor also asked Osun residents to avoid violence and allow the August 15 election to proceed peacefully.
His record goes into the vote
Adeleke used the same forum to present the work his government had done since taking office in 2022.
He said his administration had paid more than N80 billion in pension debt inherited from a previous administration. He also said more than two-thirds of outstanding half-salary arrears owed to workers had been cleared.
The governor said many people had considered the pension and half-salary debts impossible to settle when he took office.
“It was not possible to pay the accumulated half-salary and pension debts, but I’ve shown the world that if there is political will, difficult issues can be resolved,” Adeleke said.
He listed 350 kilometres of roads, three flyover bridges and six dualised roads among projects completed by his administration.
His scorecard also included the rehabilitation of more than 200 primary healthcare centres and 150 schools.
Adeleke listed the establishment of the University of Ilesa, the purchase of 31 new tractors and almost N2 billion in cooperative funds among his government’s achievements.
He said the welfare of workers and pensioners was one of his proudest achievements.
“The pensioners, senior citizens, are happy with me. The workers love me. The first job of a government is the welfare of the people. I fulfilled that responsibility,” he said.
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