The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Accord Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Popoola Alaba, popularly known as Alabama, following his arrest by the police.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the council alleged that Alaba and three other Accord members were arrested by police officers while attending a meeting with party canvassers and were subsequently taken to the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo.
According to the statement signed by the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, Rep. Bamidele Salam, the police team that carried out the operation was allegedly led by an officer identified as Wemimo, who was described as a security aide to Senator Francis Fadahunsi.
The campaign council claimed that the police invaded the meeting venue, forcefully arrested the party members and assaulted several supporters during the operation.
TICC further alleged that the arrest was orchestrated to prevent Alaba and other Accord leaders from participating in political activities ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
The council also claimed to have received intelligence suggesting that the arrests followed an alleged meeting involving Senator Fadahunsi, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, and another senior security official, during which Accord leaders were allegedly marked for arrest.
It warned that the Osun State Police Command and the Commissioner of Police would be held responsible should any harm come to the detained politician.
The campaign council also expressed concern over the killing of an Accord member, Yomi David Akanji, who it alleged was shot dead by suspected political thugs near his residence in the Olude area of Osogbo on Wednesday night.
According to the statement, Akanji, described as a father of three, was attacked while driving and died after gunmen allegedly opened fire on his vehicle.
TICC urged the police to release the detained party members without delay and ensure a thorough investigation into the killing of Akanji.
The allegations by the Imole Campaign Council had not been responded to by the Osun State Police Command or Senator Francis Fadahunsi as of the time of filing this report.
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