Adeleke Camp Sends Message To Police Following Tinubu’s Directive

The Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, has urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to comply with President Bola Tinubu’s directive on neutrality and professionalism in the Saturday’s governorship election.

This was just as the council said the President’s instruction to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and heads of other security agencies deployed for the election must be strictly implemented to guarantee the safety of voters and the integrity of the electoral process.

In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council also welcomed Tinubu’s directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a transparent, free and fair election.

According to the council, the presidential directive was particularly important given what it described as concerns over the conduct of the police in the months preceding the election.

“The Imole Campaign Council believes the presidential directives need to be emphasised to the police especially, as the institution has not discharged its responsibility with professional neutrality in the last few months,” the statement said.

The group called on police officers to perform their duties impartially, protect polling units and voters, and arrest anyone who attempts to disrupt the election regardless of political affiliation.

It also urged the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to ensure that the President’s directive was enforced.

“Police officers must not pay lip service to this presidential directive. Voters must be protected. Polling units must be guarded. Troublemakers must be arrested regardless of party affiliation. Ultimately, votes must count,” the council said.

The campaign council further appealed to Osun voters to participate in the election and support Adeleke, whom it described as a governor who had demonstrated “capacity and empathy” during his four years in office.

Earlier, the council has also commended the Nigerian Navy for what it described as professionalism and neutrality during the election period, while condemning the reported release of an APC House of Assembly candidate allegedly arrested with a firearm.

The council said its attention had been drawn to the reported arrest and subsequent release of Babatunde Festus Komolafe, popularly known as BFK, who is the APC candidate for Atakumosa East/West State Constituency.

According to the statement, Komolafe was arrested alongside some supporters by naval personnel in Ifewara on Thursday after a gun was allegedly found in a vehicle reportedly being used by the group.

The council said footage of the arrest had subsequently circulated on social media, attracting public attention.

It, however, alleged that the suspects were released following pressure from senior APC figures.

“We gathered reliably that the arrested APC candidate and his co-perpetrators were immediately released following pressure from APC top goons,” the council alleged.

The group further claimed that the naval officer involved in the arrest was subsequently forced to release the suspects and asked to step aside.

While condemning the alleged release, the council praised the armed forces, particularly the Navy, for what it described as their impartiality in dealing with election-related disturbances.

“The Imole Campaign Council commends the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, especially the Nigerian Navy, for their neutrality and professionalism since the commencement of the governorship election campaigns,” it said.

The council alleged that security personnel had arrested political actors involved in electoral disturbances irrespective of their party affiliations.

However, it said releasing anyone allegedly found in possession of an unauthorised firearm could undermine public confidence in the security agencies.

“That said, the release of a suspect who was caught with an unauthorised gun is unacceptable. It sends the wrong signal to political criminals whose pastime is killing and maiming,” the statement said.

It called on Ribadu to investigate the latest development and ensure that anyone found to have violated the law was held accountable.