Osun Poll: Accord Party Alleges IGP Ordered Continued Detention of Member

The Accord Party Governorship Campaign Council in Osun State has alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, directed the continued detention of one of its members, Popoola Alaba, despite investigators reportedly finding no evidence linking him to any criminal offence.

The allegation was made by the party’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, during an interview on ARISE News while reacting to Alaba’s arrest amid rising political tension ahead of the Osun State governorship election.

According to Olajengbesi, claims that Alaba was arrested in possession of firearms were not supported by officers handling the investigation.

“Those allegations are embarrassing to the knowledge of the Nigerian Police. The man that was arrested was arrested with nothing. He was arrested at the point where he was sensitising his supporters,” he said.

Olajengbesi argued that if the police had genuinely recovered firearms or any other incriminating materials from the suspect, such evidence should have been presented to the public.

“The Nigerian Police should have ordinarily come out and shown to the public the evidence or whatever material they had relating to possession of firearms,” he added.

The Accord Party spokesman further claimed that members of the campaign council met with officers responsible for the investigation, who allegedly informed them that there was no petition against Alaba and that no incriminating items were recovered from him.

According to Olajengbesi, the officers, however, explained that they were acting on instructions allegedly issued by the Inspector-General of Police.

“We’ve met with the officers in charge of the investigation and they have said to us that there’s no petition against the man and nothing was found on him, but it is just very unfortunate that they have instructions from the Inspector-General of Police to detain him until further notice,” he alleged.

Describing the situation as disturbing, the Accord Party urged the Nigeria Police Force to publicly present any evidence supporting the allegations against its member.

Olajengbesi also challenged the media to independently verify the circumstances surrounding Alaba’s arrest and detention, insisting that transparency was necessary to assure the public that law enforcement actions were not being influenced by political considerations ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.