ACCORD
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, ABUJA
30th July 2026
PRESS RELEASE
OSUN GOVERNORSHIP: NIGERIA DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL
… POLICE HARASSMENT, ARREST AND DETENTION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, PARTY LEADERS AND MEMBERS MUST STOP, WE ARE PREPARING FOR ELECTION NOT WAR
… PARTY DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF DETAINED MEMBERS AND REMOVAL OF OSUN STATE CP IBRAHIM GOTAN
… OSUN RESIDENTS SHOULD FREELY CHOOSE THEIR GOVERNOR DEVOID OF VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT
Accord is peacefully carrying out its grassroots campaign for the August 15, governorship election in Osun State.
Unfortunately, while the party is preparing for the election, the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state in collaboration with the Osun State Police Command and thugs associated with the APC have been unleashing unprecedented assaults on the nation’s democracy to undermine the gubernatorial poll. The danger is very glaring and must be forestalled immediately by all stakeholders in the electoral process to save our hard earned democracy.
Accord had previously addressed the media on the mindless killing of its leaders and supporters, multiple attacks on Imole Campaign Council and party’s offices, destruction of campaign billboards etc, by thugs associated with the All Progressives Congress. These attacks were duly reported to the Police and other security agencies in the state, sadly none of these known hoodlums was arrested let alone prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
It was this apparent Police compromise that forced Accord to demand the removal of the Osun State Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan as he has become partisan.
As at today, about 100 Accord leaders, candidates, members and supporters across the state have been arrested and detained by the Police, some of them were moved to Abuja. It is glaring that their arrests are politically motivated, to frustrate, weaken and dampen our party’s campaign efforts in Osun State.
As if this is not enough to subdue the party before the election, the Police invaded the residences of six commissioners and the Secretary to the State Government in the most despicable Gestapo-style operations, setting aside decency, dignity, professionalism and democratic ethics.
Accord condemns in strong terms this reprehensible targeted harassment, intimidation, oppression, arrest and detention of top government officials, party leaders and members by the Police in Osun State without charges preferred against them. It is draconian and unacceptable.
It is ironic that the same Police operatives who ignored duly reported attacks on the Imole Campaign Council and party offices, killing of its members and supporters and destruction of campaign billboards etc, would storm the homes of top government officials and arrest several party leaders and members of our great party in the state.
It is obvious that the Osun State Police operatives are partisan in this election, giving credence to the APC national leaders’ boasting of state capture by deploying federal might.
Accord calls on President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, civil society organisations, the international community and all lovers of democratic governance to intervene and save our hard earned constitutional rule from reactionary forces.
Accord reiterates its demand for the removal of the state Commissioner of Police before the election to guarantee a level field for all the political parties participating in the election.
This needless assault on our democracy shall not stand. Accord will not succumb to intimidation by overzealous police operatives and their cohorts. The good people of Osun State are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will massively re-elect him on August 15. Imole’s achievements in spite of efforts to destabilise the state by anti-democratic forces speak for themselves.
The party enjoins Osun indigenes to participate actively in the electoral process by obtaining their voters cards and vote for Accord to end this opposition APC’s politics of bitterness. It is the only democratic way to stop this disgusting intimidation of innocent citizens.
No brute force will break the resolve of the people of Osun from identifying with Accord and its candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial poll. In the end, the ballot is stronger than the bullet.
The party urges members to remain calm and law abiding in the quest for a better, greater and prosperous Osun State.
We did it before and will do it again on August 15.
Barr Maxwell Mgbudem
National Chairman, Accord
