Osun Election: Gov Adeleke’s Wife, Supporters Storm Police HQ With Fresh Demand

The First Lady of Osun State, Titilola Adeleke, on Monday led a group of women to the state police command headquarters in Osogbo to protest alleged voter intimidation ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The protesters demanded a peaceful and credible election, alleging that some leaders and supporters of the Accord Party were being targeted for arrest.

Adeleke was accompanied by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotoso.

The group marched from Lameco through the West Bypass to the Osun State Police Command headquarters, where they submitted a letter of protest to the Commissioner of Police in charge of election duties, CP Samuel Etaifo.

Addressing the police commissioner, Adeleke called for an election free from intimidation and alleged that some Accord Party leaders were being targeted by opposition elements.

She also referred to the reported arrest of the Commissioner for Environment the previous Friday, alleging that he was subjected to degrading treatment while in police custody.

Adeleke said, “From what we heard, we learnt that they will start picking our leaders up this week. Last Friday, they picked up the Commissioner for Environment. He was brought here, stripped naked. This is not good enough. They should leave our people alone.”

Receiving the petition, CP Etaifo assured the protesters that the police command would work to maintain peace before and during the election.

He said the security situation in the state had improved since his deployment but cautioned political actors against actions that could heighten tension.

Etaifo said, “If you notice, since I came, we have relative peace in the state. But the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again.”

The commissioner explained that he was deployed to Osun State on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to stabilise the state and ensure that all political actors could participate in the election without fear.

He said, “I have the mandate of the Inspector-General of Police to come to the state and stabilise things, give an enabling environment for every political actor to exercise their franchise, to create public confidence for everyone to come out to vote on election day.”

Etaifo assured the protesters that the command would review the issues raised in their petition and adjust its strategy where necessary.

“We are going to go back and restrategise to attend to all your demands,” he added.