Osun State Government has accused the Nigeria Police of conducting coordinated raids on the residences of senior government officials, claiming the operations constitute intimidation ahead of the upcoming governorship election in the state. The government alleges that these actions are politically motivated and threaten democratic processes, particularly as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) intensifies preparations for the election. The incident involving the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, has drawn widespread attention, with the state government condemning the police’s conduct as an assault on constitutional authority.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, police officers raided the SSG’s residence while he was attending an INEC stakeholders’ forum in Osogbo. The government said ward officials were holding a political meeting at the premises when the raid occurred. Alimi stated that the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, and that family members of the SSG were also taken away and detained at unknown locations.
The state government further claimed that the raids are part of a broader pattern targeting members of the administration. It alleged that the residences of approximately six commissioners, including the Commissioner for Energy, Festus Adeyemo, in Ikire, were searched by security operatives. In Adeyemo’s case, the government said officers damaged property during the operation. Several other commissioners reported surveillance around their homes, with some residences allegedly entered despite no evidence of illegal activity.
The government also disclosed that members of the Accord Party have been detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Osun State Police Command without being granted bail. It described these actions as a campaign of repression that undermines democracy and constitutional principles. The statement accused the Osun State Police Command of acting as a partisan tool for the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby compromising its neutrality and integrity.
The timing of the raids, coinciding with the visit of the INEC Chairman for election-related engagements, has raised concerns about public confidence in the electoral process. The state government urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Service, the National Security Adviser, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and traditional rulers to intervene and halt what it described as targeted actions against government officials and Accord Party members.
Despite the government’s allegations, the Osun State Police Command confirmed the arrest of several suspects, including Teslim Igbalaye, during an operation linked to an investigation into alleged vote buying in Osogbo. The police’s statement, issued by spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi on behalf of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, did not address the government’s claims of intimidation or political bias.
As tensions rise, the Osun State Government insists that the situation is nearing a breaking point and calls for immediate action to protect democracy from what it describes as lawless elements within the police. The outcome of this standoff could have significant implications for the credibility of the upcoming election and the broader political landscape in Nigeria.
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