The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the state Police Command to publicly parade eight suspected hoodlums arrested at the venue of last Thursday’s All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential rally in Osogbo. In a statement signed by caretaker chairman Dr. Akindele Adekunle and released on Sunday, the PDP listed the names and towns of origin of those allegedly detained, labeling them APC members. The party alleged that the suspects were found in possession of weapons—including pump‑action guns, pistols, cutlasses, axes and other dangerous items—and urged the police not to succumb to pressure but to present the suspects in court and prosecute them.
According to the PDP, credible sources confirmed that the police arrested eight armed thugs of the APC at the rally and that the individuals confessed to belonging to the APC, having been brought to the venue by party chieftains. The statement further claimed that, since the arrests, senior APC leaders have been pressuring the police to release the suspects quietly. While the police reportedly plan to arraign the “bandits” on Monday, the PDP alleged that APC leaders are attempting to intervene to protect their “agents of death,” whom it said were imported by Governor Oyetola and his associates to create a crisis in the state and justify a declaration of emergency.
APC spokesperson Mr. Kola Olabisi dismissed the allegations as a fabricated story concocted by the PDP. He urged the public to disregard the claim, describing it as a “wickedly woven” narrative intended to divert attention from the recent governorship election petition tribunal that removed the party’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, from the governorship race. Olabisi questioned the logic of APC thugs attending an APC event, asking whether their purpose would be to attack fellow party members. He concluded that the allegation lacked any basis in truth and should be consigned to the “dustbin of a conjectured statement,” advising the PDP to return to the drawing board.
Osun Police Command spokesperson Yemisi Opalola confirmed to our correspondent that some armed individuals were indeed arrested at the APC presidential rally last Thursday. She stated, “We made arrests at the event and, after investigation, we will charge them in court.”
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