With less than two weeks to the Osun State governorship election, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign team, the Imole Campaign Council, has lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, alleging extensive human rights abuses, politically motivated arrests and misuse of police authority.
The campaign council has called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, to maintain impartiality before, during and after the election. Additionally, it urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that security agencies are not utilized as tools for political intimidation.
Speaking to the press shortly after submitting their petition at the NHRC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, accused the police of specifically targeting the governor’s supporters in the lead-up to the election.
He stated that numerous campaign supporters have been arrested and held in police custody across the nation without any lawful grounds.
“This morning, we approached the National Human Rights Commission to formally highlight what we perceive as a reckless violation of human rights occurring in Osun State, simply due to the impending election.
“We seek assurance from the Inspector-General of Police to the Nigerian populace, particularly the residents of Osun State, that the governorship election on August 15 will be conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner, and that the Nigeria Police Force possesses the capability to ensure security impartially,” he remarked.
Olajengbesi further alleged that in response to public outcry regarding what he termed arbitrary arrests of opposition supporters, the police authorities initially reassigned the
