Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the arrest of the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sunday Bisi, describing the development as an attack on democracy and calling for his immediate release.
Bisi was reportedly arrested at his residence in Ilesa shortly after casting his vote in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said he was informed that the PDP chairman was taken away by security operatives to an undisclosed location.
The governor expressed concern that the reason for Bisi’s arrest had not been made known, alleging that the development was part of an attempt to intimidate members and supporters of the PDP during the electoral process.
“Adeleke further alleged that the arrest was connected to a wider plan to restrict his supporters from monitoring the collation of results at various centres across the state,” the statement read.
Adeleke further alleged that the arrest was connected to a wider plan to restrict his supporters from monitoring the collation of results at various centres across the state.
He accused the All Progressives Congress and some compromised security personnel of working together to manipulate the outcome of the election at the collation stage.
The governor described the alleged action as a serious threat to the democratic process and warned against the use of state institutions to undermine the choice of voters.
He consequently demanded the immediate release of Bisi and other persons he described as political detainees across the state.
Adeleke said the outcome of the election should reflect the freely expressed will of the electorate, without intimidation, coercion or interference.
He urged all stakeholders, particularly security agencies and political actors, to respect the electoral process and allow voters’ mandates to prevail.
The governor also called on those involved in the alleged arrest and intimidation of political actors to desist from actions capable of undermining peace and public confidence in the election.
