Osun 2026: We’ve Lost 8 Party Members, 60 Others In Detention,Says Gov Adeleke

Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has disclosed that his party, Accord, has lost eight members in the last three months, while over 60 of its leaders have been arrested and moved to Abuja.

He made the disclosure when he appealed to the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee to save the state from the raging violence ahead of August 15 governorship election.

The committee oversaw the signing of the peace accord to ensure a non-violent election by candidates of political parties contesting the election. Fourteen political parties signed the accord at the event presided over by the NPC convener, Rev. Matthew Kukah.

This comes as the secretary to the state government (SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye was released from police custody yesterday.

The Imole Campaign Council, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, in a statement, announced the SSG’s release, while appreciating the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan and the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu for listening to voices of reason over the matter.

The SSG was arrested on Wednesday over his alleged possession of Permanent Voters Cards and over four million Naira.

However, addressing the peace forum chaired by former Chief of Army Staff, Martins Agwai in company of Bishop Kukah and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the governor raised alarm about systematic plot to kill, maim and incarcerate Osun Accord leaders through an unholy alliance between Osun APC thugs and the state police command.

Adeleke, who corroborated the caution against political violence by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the electoral commission chairman, Prof Amupitan, decried the concerted push to “eliminate Accord party leaders”, urging “our peace leaders to stop a progression towards genocide.”

He continued, “I should have boycotted this peace meeting because of the violence unleashed on Osun State in the last few months, on the directive of Gboyega Oyetola. However, my presence is due to my very deep respect for our peace leaders here present.”

He urged the Peace Committee to prevail upon the Inspector General of Police to return everyone in police custody, adding that those remanded in prisons should be returned to Osun State, and be charged to Courts in Osun State.

According to him, his government and members of his party are facing police sanctioned violence and intimidation, saying that an active war is being waged against his people by Osun APC openly supported by the Osun state police Command.

“In the last three months, we have lost eight party members with more than 20 injured in gun attacks. There is no single prosecution or active arrest till date. The perpetrators are known Osun APC thugs with crimes committed in the presence of the police. Video evidence is everywhere on the internet.

“Top government officials are being harassed and intimidated. More than 60 Accord leaders have been arrested and moved to Abuja, and remanded in Abuja prisons and Nassarawa State prisons.

“There is an active plot to kill and maim Osun people before, during and after Osun elections. Our dear peace leaders, there is a active progression towards genocide in Osun state.

“We seek that you interface with Mr President to stop the Marine Minister, Gboyega Oyetola, the Osun APC and the Osun Police Commissioner from unleashing further violence on Osun people” Adeleke posited.

In his remark, chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan pledged the determination of the commission to conduct a free, fair and credible election come August 15, 2026.

He however expressed his dissatisfaction with the security situation in the state, adding that the best can only be achieved in a peaceful environment devoid of crisis.

His words: “The Commission is deeply concerned by several reports of violence and threats. We recognise that insecurity is a direct assault on the sanctity of the ballot, and it is a menace we are determined to overcome. As Chairman, it weighs heavily on me that the environment for this election must be one of peace, not intimidation. Let me be clear: we will not allow the democratic will of the people to be subverted by fear or force.”

Speaking also, Cardinal John Onayekan, former Abuja Catholic Bishop charged politicians in the state to allow peace to prevail adding that it is under a peaceful atmosphere that electorate can exercise their voting rights for a credible election.

According to him, the Peace Accord signing is not a routine exercise but commitment by stakeholders to ensure that peace reign in Osun before, during and after the August 15, governorship election in Osun State.

All the 14 participating parties signed the Peace Accord under the watch of Bishop Mathew Hassan Kuka, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, top security government functionaries, religious leaders, civil society organisations among others.