By Governor Ademola Adeleke has alerted President Bola Tinubu to what he described as ongoing systematic repression, killing, and incarceration of Osun residents, warning that Osun people will resist any attempt to rig or manipulate the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Osogbo on Monday, the governor told the president that Accord Party had lost seven members to killings in the last three months, with over 20 others sustaining gunshot wounds and more than 60 currently held in what he described as illegal police detention.
Adeleke said his people were being killed daily, alleging that elements within the police were aiding APC thugs in the violence, and appealed for the president’s urgent intervention, describing the state as “bleeding.” He said those pushing to rig the election had forgotten history, and urged the president to protect Nigeria’s democracy, insisting Osun people sought nothing but a free and fair election.
He alleged that Osun APC members were invoking the president’s name while carrying out killings and maiming residents, saying this dragged the president’s name through the mud. He specifically appealed to Tinubu to call the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and Senator Francis Fadahunsi to order, describing the killings as a grave threat to democracy.
The governor said the Osun election was drawing national and international attention, claiming that several embassies were filing reports on human rights abuses and that local and international human rights groups were focusing on what he called deliberate violence against Osun people. He said his camp had endorsed the president’s re-election and demonstrated loyalty to him, and called on stakeholders to show Osun people love rather than violence. He maintained that Osun residents would not bow to threats or intimidation and were resolved to ensure their votes count.
Accord Leaders Issue Separate Warnings at Rally
At a related, heavily attended rally in Osogbo the same day, with Governor Adeleke in attendance, leaders of the Accord Party warned Osun APC leaders that the arrest and killing of Accord leaders would not stop Adeleke’s re-election on August 15.
The Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, alleged that the APC, in collaboration with the police, had begun arresting Accord leaders, and said that shootings from Ilesa to Ila would not defeat the governor. He said Osun people remained resolved to vote and defend their votes, adding that killings of innocent people would only strengthen public resolve to re-elect the governor.
The Deputy Director-General of the campaign, Hon. Kolapo Alimi, said several Accord leaders had been arrested overnight, though their properties were not vandalised. He said the campaign had heard the arrests would continue, but maintained that arresting party members would not change what he described as the popular acceptance enjoyed by Accord, and that the party would not be intimidated.
The Accord Party’s Osun Central senatorial candidate, Hon. Ganiyu Olaoluwa, warned that those responsible for arresting and killing Osun people would eventually face public anger and revolt. He said the party was aware of being targeted, citing over 60 Accord members allegedly held in illegal detention and reports of homes being raided, but said the party remained determined to secure the governor’s re-election with what he described as massive public support.
The governor later met with the Butchers Association and Hausa communities in the state, who pledged their full support for his re-election bid.
