Osun guber: Adeleke campaign petitions NHRC

The Adeleke Campaign Organisation has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), alleging police intimidation ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

The campaign team also called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to reassure Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force would remain neutral and ensure the safety of lives and property before, during and after the election.

Addressing journalists at the premises of the National Human Rights Commission after submitting the petition in Abuja on Monday, spokesman of the campaign, Pelumi Olajengbesi, expressed concern over what he described as alleged human rights violations targeted at supporters of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke.

He also said the campaign council was unhappy with the reversal of the earlier transfer of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, alleging that IGP Tunji Disu was pressured to return the CP to the state.

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Olajengbesi said, “We have come to the National Human Rights Commission to present our concerns over what we consider as abuse of human rights in Osun State as the election approaches.

“We want the Inspector-General of Police to assure Nigerians and the people of Osun State that the election will be credible and that the police still have the capacity to provide security for the safety of the people of Osun State.

“We have every reason to be worried about the position of the IGP. Just last week we made complaint about the reckless arrest of citizens of Osun State being detained across the country in different prisons, in different police stations. But interestingly, after people of good conscience raised up their voices against the abuse of government institutions in Osun State, the Inspector-General of Police sent a signal that the Commissioner of Police be transferred out of Osun State.”

He said immediately 26 of their supporters who were unlawfully arrested were released. He, however, said, “Interestingly, the Commissioner of Police who was said to have been transferred has now been returned to Osun State.

“We were rightfully informed that the Inspector-General of Police was threatened that the Commissioner of Police must be returned to Osun State and now he has been reinstated.”

The campaign also raised concerns over the arrest of some Osun residents, alleging that they were detained in police facilities across the country.

He further alleged that the Accord Party member in Ijesa South, Popoola Alabama, was arrested during a political campaign in Ilesa and subsequently transferred to Abuja, where a magistrate court reportedly granted an order for his detention over allegations of unlawful possession of firearms and armed robbery.

The campaign claimed that no incriminating items were recovered from the politician at the time of his arrest and called on the police to either charge him to court or release him.

It also urged the police to release other persons it alleged were unlawfully detained, while insisting that anyone suspected of committing an offence should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.