OSUN POLL: ADELEKE DEMANDS RELEASE OF PDP CHAIRMAN, ALLEGES POLITICAL ARREST

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the reported arrest of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sunday Bisi, and called for his immediate release.

Adeleke, in a statement issued through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and posted on his official X account on Saturday, alleged that Bisi was arrested at his residence in Ilesa shortly after casting his vote in the ongoing Osun governorship election.

The governor described the alleged arrest as an abuse of law enforcement and an attempt to undermine the democratic process.

“Information reaching me indicates that Bisi was accosted in his home in Ilesa shortly after he returned after voting, and whisked away to a yet-to-be-known location,” Adeleke said.

He alleged that no reason had been given for the arrest, claiming that the development was part of an attempt to prevent his supporters from monitoring the collation of election results.

Adeleke further alleged that the arrest was linked to a broader plan to interfere with the collation process and alter election results, although he provided no evidence to substantiate the claims.

“This is the biggest assault on democracy, and I urge everyone involved in this desperate attempt to upturn the will of our people through the use of state institutions,” he said.

The governor called for Bisi’s immediate release, describing the alleged arrest as political, and also demanded the release of other persons he referred to as “political prisoners” across the state.

“Election should be about the people freely giving their mandates to the person of their choice without threat or force,” Adeleke added.

As of the time of filing the report, Adeleke said the whereabouts of the PDP chairman remained unknown.

No security agency had publicly claimed responsibility for the alleged arrest or provided an explanation for the reported detention.