Stop arresting our members or we will take over your stations across the state – Osun PDP warns police 

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun has threatened to seize police stations across the state unless Inspector General of Police Usman Baba Alkali stops arresting party leaders by Saturday, 18. March 2023, elections to the State House of Representatives.

The party, which asserts that it is the ruling party in the state and that its members are law-abiding citizens, has ruled out reinstating the self-help force but added that if the harassment persists, the party will mobilize and storm all police stations in this state. peaceful protests so that all their members in the state will be arrested

The warning is in a statement signed by Osun’s acting PDP president, Akindele Adekunle, on Sunday in Osogbo, the state capital.

The statement read: “Our leaders are being arrested for the purpose of rigging Saturday’s election. We will fight against any conspiracy to manipulate polls. Osun residents voted overwhelmingly for the DPP in the latest polls. They are willing to freely exercise their right to vote again. Arresting our leaders on Kangaroo Charges is an attack on our democracy and basic human rights.

“We will not resort to self-reliance. We are law-abiding citizens and a ruling party in Osun State. But harassment of our members continues, we will mobilize and storm all police stations in Osun State to protest peacefully. Ask the IGP to arrest all Osun PDP members.

“We urge the Inspector General of Police to stop serving the evil interests of the APC. Police chiefs have a sacred duty to be impartial law enforcers, not agents of one party against another. It is unacceptable for the IGP to give direction as to who should arrest or detain APC leaders. It’s a democracy, not a military dictatorship.

While wondering if winning the election by a free and fair vote was a sin, Akindele questioned why IGP Baba Alkali deliberately fanned the flames of political strife. in a peaceful state like Osun.

The Osun PDP has called on Western embassies and international human rights organizations to intervene by calling on the IGP to issue a note that police behavior in Osun State threatens the peace and security of the State.

“PDP members are cornered. We have constitutionally protected Nigerians. We will not give up our rights. We notify the IGP that they will be responsible for any public order incidents in the state. This statewide illegal arrest must cease,” the statement concluded.

Osun’s PDP and the Progressive All-People’s Congress (APC) clashed ahead of the 2023 general election.

Both sides allege and counter the murders, murders, violence, and vandalism of billboards and campaign posters.

Things got tense just weeks before the Presidential and Congressional elections when murder cases in the state’s Ife-Ijesa axis were reported. APC senate district candidate Osun East Ajibola Famurewa was arrested but eventually released.

Osun’s DPP then achieved a 100% victory when it won all three senatorial seats and nine federal seats in the House of Representatives in Osun.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yemisi Opalola of the Osun State Police Command,  did not return his calls.

But in previous reports, Opalola has always insisted that the state police chief is neutral because they do not support any political party or politician.

In addition, the state police commissioner, Patrick Kehinde Longe, before the state elections, held meetings with political parties and candidates for elected office. During the meetings, Police Chief Osun reaffirmed the police’s neutrality and also warned that as the security body in charge of election security, it would not tolerate any form of violence. power from politicians and their parties.

He also warned that anyone caught would not be spared and would face any burden.