Tensions ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election sharpened on Monday as the All Progressives Congress and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign organisation exchanged sharp accusations over the alleged release of hardened criminals and the neutrality of the police.
The Director-General of the APC campaign council for Osun Central, Adebayo Adeleke, claimed that Governor Adeleke had used his prerogative of mercy in recent weeks to free several notorious offenders from prison. According to him, the releases were timed to create chaos in the run-up to the election.
“Within the last eight weeks, some hardened criminals in prison have been released and the Governor reportedly released them on a prerogative of mercy,” Adebayo Adeleke said. He named several individuals, including Sahid Sabo, Taoreed Ademola, popularly known as Small Rugged, Esubiyi, who was jailed for murder, Farounbi from Ede, and Amos Ayomide Aderibigbe, described as a close ally of Emir Ajagungbade and accused of defiling a five-year-old girl.
Some of those released, he alleged, were either standing trial or already convicted for serious offences, including murder. He specifically accused Small Rugged of involvement in attacks and killings since leaving prison. “The governor should explain to the whole world the rationale behind the release of these criminals,” he said, adding that the public and the Chief Judge should demand answers given the proximity of the election.
The APC campaign official went further, claiming the council possessed intelligence that Accord Party and state government leaders planned to target APC figures a week before the poll. The alleged plan, he said, involved using Amotekun personnel to trail and attack opposition leaders.
Governor Adeleke’s Imole Campaign Council rejected the claims outright. Deputy Director-General Kolapo Alimi described the allegations as pure propaganda. “Since the last two years, the Governor has not exercised his power of mercy. I don’t know where they are getting their facts from,” Alimi stated.
The same campaign organisation also turned its attention to the police, urging Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to publicly assure Osun residents of a violence-free election. In a statement by spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council accused the state police command of harassment, human rights abuses, and arbitrary arrests and detention of Accord Party members and chieftains.
Particular concern was raised over the reinstatement of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan. The council said Gotan had been transferred to Force Headquarters the previous Thursday after public outrage over the detention of Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye and others at Igbalaye’s residence. Items seized during the operation were later returned and the SSG released, a development the council cited as evidence of politically motivated action.
According to the Imole Campaign Council, CP Samuel Etaifo was briefly posted to Osun as Gotan’s replacement, only for the Inspector-General to reinstate Gotan within 72 hours following alleged pressure from the APC. Etaifo, the statement claimed, would now handle only election-related duties.
“We find the controversial reinstatement of CP Ibrahim Gotan as the Commissioner of Police for Osun State very concerning,” Olajengbesi said. The council insisted that security agencies must remain neutral and professional if the election is to be credible. It called on the Inspector-General to address the people of Osun directly, assure them of a peaceful poll, and ensure his officers act impartially.
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