Osun State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of using police officers to target, intimidate, and arrest opposition party members. In a statement released by APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal and obtained by the media on Friday, the party claimed that these actions aim to suppress opposition.
Lawal stated, “Information has it that Mr. Akin Adeyi, a chieftain of the APC and respected socio-political commentator on social media platforms, has been invited multiple times within a few days by the Zone 11 Command of the Nigeria Police, based on frivolous petitions by an appointed political functionary in Governor Adeleke’s administration.”
The APC also alleged that leading party members have received questionable calls from police officers inviting them for investigations based on what they described as frivolous petitions.
Lawal appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to prevent Zone 11 and the State Command from being manipulated by political figures whose popularity is waning.
He emphasized the importance of opposition in a democratic government and called for the police to respect Adeyi’s legal challenge of his fundamental rights at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
In response, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi, in a statement, urged the APC to accept the realities of the law.
Bisi emphasized that Osun State, as part of Nigeria, enforces laws against cyberstalking and cyberbullying, crimes legislated during the APC administration.
Bisi remarked, “Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 criminalises cyberstalking and cyberbullying, with penalties including up to 10 years of imprisonment and fines up to N25 million.”
He criticized the APC’s stance and urged the police to maintain order without succumbing to what he described as the APC’s disruptive tactics.
Bisi highlighted the inconsistency in Adeyi’s previous praise for the police, now turned to criticism, and called on the APC to responsibly defend their actions in court rather than seeking public sympathy.
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