Osun Poll: Police Colluding With ‘APC Thugs’ to Scare Voters, Adeleke Alleges

Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that some police officers are colluding with suspected All Progressives Congress thugs to intimidate voters and disrupt the ongoing governorship election.

Adeleke made the allegation on Saturday shortly after casting his ballot at Ward 02, Polling Unit 009, in Ede.

The governor said he had received reports of alleged intimidation and disruption from some parts of the state, including Modakeke and Obaagun.

According to Adeleke, the alleged activities were intended to frighten voters and force them away from polling units, thereby preventing them from exercising their civic rights.

“As I am voting right now, I have just received a call in Modakeke and Obaagun that the police are aiding them in tearing them so that people can run away. And people are resolute. They just want to perform their civic duty,” Adeleke said.

He alleged that the situation was not peaceful in the affected communities and claimed that suspected thugs had taken away a ballot box.

“The thugs took the ballot box and ran away. So we have already reported this to the security agencies. I hope they do something so that they will not turn Osun state into a war zone,” he said.

Adeleke also alleged that a police officer identified by the nickname “London” had been brought from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to disrupt the election in Ede.

According to the governor, the officer was allegedly deployed to intimidate residents and create fear through acts of violence.

“His own job is to come and destroy Ede and scare people by shooting, so that they will not vote,” Adeleke alleged.

He consequently called on the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to investigate the allegation and redeploy the officer from Osun State.

“We don’t want him in Osun. We don’t want violence in Osun,” Adeleke said.

The governor also urged electoral authorities to follow the prescribed process for collation of results, insisting that results should move from polling units to wards and then local government areas.

He further alleged that attempts were being made to introduce fake ballot papers and urged voters to remain vigilant.

Adeleke said his priority remained a free and fair election that would reflect the will of Osun voters.