The police in Osun State have warned that anyone who disrupts Saturday’s governorship election will be arrested and taken to Abuja, as women led by the governor’s wife, Titilola Adeleke, protested alleged arrests and violence in Osogbo on Monday.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of election matters, Samuel Etaifo, gave the warning when he received the protesters at the Osun State Police Command along the West Bypass. He said the police would not tolerate acts capable of disrupting the election.
Etaifo said he had a mandate from the Inspector-General of Police to create a safe environment for political actors and voters ahead of the poll.
He said, “We don’t want tension before the election. We want peace. We cannot conduct an election in an insecure environment.”
Women protest alleged arrests
Adeleke led women from different groups of traders and artisans on a march from the Osogbo-Ilobu Road towards the police command.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotosho, were among those present.
The protesters carried placards with messages including “Election is not war,” “We want a free and fair election,” and “Police must be neutral.”
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The women were stopped from reaching the main entrance of the police command. They were received at the entrance by Etaifo, who said the command would consider their complaints.
Speaking for the protesters, Adeleke said the women wanted a peaceful and fair election. She also asked the police to invite some All Progressives Congress chieftains for questioning over alleged violence in the state.
“We are demanding a free and fair election in the forthcoming poll. We want peace; let there be peace.
“Invite APC chieftains for questioning. They should stop killing our husbands and children. Make them sign an undertaking,” she said.
Adeleke also raised an allegation about the arrest of the commissioner for environment the previous Friday.
“From what we heard, we learnt that they will start picking our leaders up this week. Last Friday, they picked up the commissioner for environment. He was brought here and stripped naked. This is not good enough. They should leave our people alone,” she said.
She later handed a letter containing the protesters’ demands to Etaifo.
Police promise action on complaints
Etaifo said the command had been working to reduce tension in Osun since his arrival two weeks ago.
He said the Inspector-General of Police had visited the state because of the tension ahead of the election. He also said the IG directed the election commissioner to arrive three weeks before the poll.
“If you notice, since I came, we have had relative peace in the state. But the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again,” Etaifo said.
He said the police would review their approach to deal with the issues raised by the women.
Etaifo also warned political actors against acts that could interfere with the election.
“If you are a manipulator of any election, that is even the worst. The IG and Nigeria will not forgive you. I will arrest you and take you to Abuja because this election is a federal election; we must get it right,” he said.
He declared his mandate, saying it is so “stabilise things, give an enabling environment for every political actor to exercise their franchise and create public confidence for everyone to come out to vote on election day.”
Etaifo also cautioned the protesters against further confrontation, saying a clash between rival groups could create fresh tension before the poll.
“Let us assume that you come out now and the other party comes out, then both of you meet, what will happen?” he asked.
He commended the women for keeping the protest peaceful.
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