Osun Accord party candidates accuse police of intimidation

• Accord Party candidates accuse Osun State police of intimidation and persecution.
• Police allegedly failed to disclose identity or locus of petitioner who made allegations against party candidate Alaba Ibrahim Popoola.
• Senator Francis Fadahunsi accused of meeting with security agencies to hound Accord Party leaders and members.
• President Bola Tinubu's intervention sought to address trend of police harassment and intimidation.

The police allegedly failed to disclose the identity or locus of the petitioner who made the allegations against Popoola, thereby denying Nigerians the opportunity to assess the credibility or possible political motivation behind such allegations.

A group of Accord Party candidates for the 2027 National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in Osun State have accused the police of intimidation and persecution. The candidates, led by member representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam, claimed that the police are harassing party members and leaders in the state. Specifically, they alleged that Alaba Ibrahim Popoola, the party's House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, was detained over allegations of cyberstalking, while Mr Sodiq Olaniyan, a law student, was arrested for challenging an APC leader's interference with INEC's activities during the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards. The police allegedly failed to disclose the identity or locus of the petitioner who made the allegations against Popoola. The Accord Party candidates also accused Senator Francis Fadahunsi of meeting with security agencies in the state and making arrangements to hound party leaders and members through frivolous allegations and unlawful detention.

The police's actions may be seen as politically motivated, which could lead to a challenge of their legitimacy in future elections. The fact that the police failed to disclose the identity or locus of the petitioner who made the allegations against Popoola raises questions about the credibility and possible political motivation behind such allegations. This is particularly concerning given the proximity to the August 15 governorship election. Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of these developments and watch for any further actions related to the Accord Party's allegations of intimidation and persecution.

The allegations of police harassment and intimidation against the Accord Party candidates are a serious concern for democracy in Osun State. The fact that party leaders and members are being targeted through frivolous allegations and unlawful detention raises questions about the rule of law and the protection of citizens' rights. President Bola Tinubu's intervention is necessary to address this trend and ensure that the police act impartially and within the bounds of the law. If left unchecked, these actions could undermine the integrity of the upcoming governorship election and erode public trust in the electoral process.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that the police's actions may be seen as politically motivated, which could lead to a challenge of their legitimacy in future elections. They should also watch for any developments related to the Accord Party's allegations of intimidation and persecution.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Online