The Accord Party’s governorship campaign council in Osun State has accused the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, of ordering the continued detention of a party member, Popoola Alaba, despite investigators reportedly finding no evidence linking him to any crime.
Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council’s spokesperson, made the allegation during an interview on ARISE News while addressing Alaba’s arrest amid heightened political tensions in the state. Olajengbesi said the claims that Alaba was apprehended with firearms were not supported by the officers handling the investigation.
“Those allegations are embarrassing to the knowledge of the Nigerian Police,” Olajengbesi said. “The man that was arrested was arrested with nothing. He was arrested at the point where he was sensitising his supporters.”
He argued that if the police had genuinely recovered firearms or incriminating items, such evidence should have been presented publicly. “The Nigerian Police should have ordinarily come out and shown to the public the evidence or whatever material they had relating to possession of firearms,” he added.
Olajengbesi further stated that members of the campaign council met with the investigating officers, who allegedly confirmed there was no petition against Alaba and nothing incriminating was recovered from him. “We’ve met with the officers in charge of the investigation and they have said to us that there’s no petition against the man and nothing was found on him, but it is just very unfortunate that they have instructions from the Inspector-General of Police to detain him until further notice,” he alleged.
Describing the situation as troubling, the Accord Party spokesman called on the Nigeria Police Force and the media to publicly disclose any evidence supporting the allegations against Alaba. “That’s a sad experience we have today in Osun State and I challenge the Nigerian Police, and I challenge the press, to investigate or come out and show to the public the firearms or the unlawful possession they claimed they found with him,” he said.
The development raises questions about due process and the potential use of law enforcement in political contests. As the governorship election approaches, the party has demanded transparency and adherence to legal standards in the handling of the case. The police have not yet issued a formal response to the specific allegations raised by the campaign council.
