Accord Party candidates for the National and state assemblies in Osun State have accused the police of politically motivated arrests and harassment of their members.
The candidates are calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other stakeholders to intervene ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The allegations were made on Sunday during a press conference in Osogbo, addressed by the Accord candidate for Ede Federal Constituency, Bamidele Salam, on behalf of the party’s National and State Assembly candidates.
Salam alleged that recent actions by the police reflected a pattern of partisan conduct, claiming that prominent leaders and members of the Accord were being targeted through frivolous arrests and unfounded allegations.
He cited the arrest of the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Popoola Alaba, stating that the politician had been transferred to Abuja after his arrest.
According to Salam, “The party initially refrained from commenting publicly because it expected that any criminal allegations against Alaba would be investigated through due process. However, the explanation subsequently issued by the police failed to address key questions surrounding the arrest.
“The Police claimed Mr Popoola Alaba was arrested over an alleged petition from an unnamed petitioner, yet failed to disclose the identity, status or locus of that petitioner.”
The Accord candidate also questioned whether Alaba had been invited for questioning before his arrest, asking whether invitations and due process were no longer part of criminal investigations involving political figures.
Salam alleged that Olaniyan
