Osun Decides: Adeleke Camp Alleges 86 Accord Supporters Locked Up in Keffi, Kuje Prisons
By: Oluwaseun M. Lawal
With the August 15 governorship election around the corner, the Imole Campaign Council of Governor Ademola Adeleke is accusing the police of sweeping up opposition supporters in what it calls a political crackdown.
According to the council, no fewer than 86 members of the Accord Party were arrested in recent days and transported from Osun to Abuja. By road. Not quietly either.
Some are now being held in Keffi prison, Nasarawa State. Others, in Kuje Custodial Centre in the FCT. Families, the council says, are confused. Lawyers are asking questions. And answers are not coming.
Speaking after a visit to the Intelligence Response Team headquarters in Abuja, Accord Party campaign spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, described the arrests as unlawful and politically driven.
“For two to three days now, our members have been picked up for no reason,” he told journalists. “We met the police leadership. There is no petition. No charge. No offence. So why are they detained?”
He claimed 36 of the arrested members were moved to Keffi, while 14 were taken to Kuje. Others, he suggested, may still be in police custody.
The allegation goes further.
Olajengbesi said some detainees were allegedly asked whether they would defect to the APC. An accusation that, if true, raises eyebrows. Big ones.
“The only offence they committed,” he insisted, “is supporting Governor Adeleke’s re-election. That cannot be a crime.”
He also alleged that the Secretary to the Osun State Government was briefly picked up while engaging residents ahead of the poll.
When contacted, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, said he was unaware of the situation.
“I am not aware. Let me check and get back to you,” he said. As of press time, no further response had come.
The campaign council didn’t hide its frustration. It accused the police of drifting into partisanship, warning that security agencies must not become tools in political battles. Elections are sensitive periods. Very sensitive.
They are now calling on Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to step in immediately and, if necessary, redeploy the Osun CP from election duties. The council also appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to ensure neutrality across security agencies.
“If this continues,” Olajengbesi warned, “the credibility of the election is already in doubt.”
Strong words.
With barely weeks to go, Osun is heating up. And the world, as they say, is watching.
Oluwaseun Musa Lawal is an Editor at REPORTERS ROOM with over eight years of professional journalism experience. He specializes in reporting on politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial affairs. His work is driven by a commitment to accuracy, balanced reporting, and public-interest journalism.
