Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday, July 30, 2026, accused former governor and Marine Minister Gboyega Oyetola of directing police to carry out violence against his government and members of the Accord Party ahead of the August 15 governorship election. Addressing a peace committee, Adeleke detailed months of what he described as police-sanctioned attacks, including killings, injuries, and unlawful detentions.
Eight Killed, Dozens Injured in Three Months
Adeleke stated that at least eight Accord Party members had been killed and more than 20 others injured in gun attacks over the past three months. He noted that despite video evidence circulating online and crimes allegedly committed in the presence of police officers, no suspect has been arrested or prosecuted. The governor accused police of siding with thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Over 60 Accord Members Detained Without Charge
The governor further alleged that more than 60 Accord Party members are currently held in police detention without charge, including a House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Alaba. He said those arrested were transferred to prisons in Abuja and Nasarawa State rather than being arraigned in Osun courts, calling the move a deliberate act of intimidation. “Under which law can a state police commissioner take instructions from Mr Gboyega Oyetola to arrest Accord Party members in Osun State and move them to Abuja and be held in prisons without any charge?” Adeleke asked.
Additionally, the Secretary to the State Government was arrested, detained overnight, and his home raided without a court-authorised search warrant. Adeleke said his administration has exercised restraint, with supporters not retaliating against any attacks, describing it as a commitment to the rule of law rather than weakness.
Calls for Intervention from Police Leadership and President
Adeleke urged the peace committee to press the Inspector General of Police to return all detained individuals to Osun State and, where charges exist, to have them arraigned in courts within the state. He also called on the committee to engage President Bola Tinubu directly, asking the presidency to stop Oyetola, the Osun APC, and the state police commissioner from carrying out further acts of violence before, during, and after the election. “We are committed to peace but we are presently having a peace of the graveyard,” he said.
Demand for Impartial Policing and Fair Election
The governor called for impartial policing, a fair electoral commission, and the supremacy of voters’ will at the polls on August 15. He reiterated that his government would not be cowed but remained dedicated to lawful processes. This latest accusation follows a previous report where Adeleke alleged that unnamed personalities were working to intimidate his administration, with police raids on the residences of the SSG and six commissioners.
