The Accord Party has alleged that the Osun State Police Command has detained about 100 of its members barely two weeks to the August 15 governorship election in the state.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, the party described the arrests as part of what it called “an orchestrated assault on Nigeria’s democracy.”
Accord accused the police of carrying out intimidation, arbitrary arrests and political persecution in collaboration with leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and suspected political thugs.
According to the party, the arrests were targeted at its leaders, candidates, and grassroots supporters in a bid to cripple its campaign ahead of the poll. It claimed that some of those detained had been transferred to Abuja.
The party further alleged that police operatives conducted “Gestapo-style raids on the homes of six commissioners and the Secretary to the State Government, without any formal charges being filed.
Accord described the actions as a blatant abuse of power and a dangerous erosion of democratic norms.
The party also alleged that security agencies had failed to investigate previous attacks on its members, campaign offices and billboards despite repeated reports, while allegedly directing enforcement powers against opposition figures.
Accord called on civil society, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other stakeholders to intervene to ensure a level playing field and a peaceful election in Osun.
The party argued that the development reinforced its long-standing demand for the immediate removal of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, accusing him of partisanship and alleging that he could no longer guarantee a credible, free and fair election.
It warned that the unfolding situation amounted to placing Nigeria’s democracy “on trial,” insisting that the governorship election must not be reduced to a battle fought with intimidation, arrests and state power.
The party appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, civil society organisations and the international community to intervene urgently to prevent what it described as attempts to undermine constitutional democracy in Osun State.
It maintained that the people of Osun must be allowed to elect their governor without fear, harassment or violence, stressing that no amount of intimidation would force the electorate to abandon its democratic choice.
It also urged its members and supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the electioneering period, expressing confidence that the electorate would ultimately determine the outcome of the governorship contest through the ballot.