The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, alleging that elements within the command are working with suspected political thugs to intimidate members of the Accord Party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
HURIWA, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, alleged that the police command had become increasingly politicised and was being used to harass, arrest and attack opposition politicians and supporters.
The organisation alleged that police personnel had accompanied suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs to attack Accord members, while some opposition members were allegedly arrested after their identities were supplied by political actors.
HURIWA said its preliminary investigation into the political crisis in Osun had produced allegations that at least seven Accord Party members had been killed by suspected APC thugs, while about 25 others were allegedly injured.
The group called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission and other relevant authorities to independently investigate the allegations and determine whether the state command had compromised its constitutional duty of neutrality.
“This is no longer ordinary political rivalry. If these allegations are established, what is unfolding in Osun amounts to an assault on democracy and a dangerous attempt to weaponise the police against political opposition,” HURIWA said.
The rights group also raised concerns over allegations that police officers were assisting suspected APC thugs in attempts to take over motor parks and other strategic locations across the state.
It warned that the alleged convergence of political thuggery and security agencies could undermine public order and erode citizens’ confidence in the electoral process.
HURIWA questioned who authorised police officers to allegedly accompany political thugs to attack opposition members, arrest Accord supporters allegedly identified by APC politicians and allow those allegedly responsible for political violence to operate without accountability.
The group’s demand followed recent allegations by the member representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam, who accused the police of intimidating and persecuting Accord Party leaders and members.
Salam had called for the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and demanded the release of Alaba Ibrahim Popoola, Accord’s candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, and Sodiq Olaniyan, a law student reportedly detained over allegations of cyberstalking.
According to HURIWA, Salam also alleged that Olaniyan was arrested after raising concerns over alleged interference by an APC leader in the statutory responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards.
The organisation said the allegation, if established, would raise questions about why the person who allegedly raised the alarm was arrested rather than the alleged interference being investigated.
On Popoola’s detention, HURIWA acknowledged the police explanation that the Accord candidate was arrested following a petition dated July 4 alleging involvement in illegal mining.
The group, however, cautioned that while it would be wrong to prejudge the allegation, criminal complaints must not be used as a cover for political persecution.
HURIWA also alleged that Accord leaders, including its Osun East senatorial candidate, Ibukun Fadipe, and other party officials in the Ijesa axis, had been marked for arrest.
The organisation warned the police against turning the security apparatus into a tool for suppressing political opposition.
“If any Accord candidate has committed a crime, investigate, charge and prosecute that person according to the law. But if police officers are being used to hunt down opposition candidates merely because political opponents have allegedly placed their names on a list, then the Inspector-General of Police must immediately dismantle such an alleged criminal political arrangement,” it said.
HURIWA urged President Tinubu to intervene, stressing that the President’s responsibility should be to protect democracy and the constitutional rights of Osun residents rather than any political party.
It equally demanded urgent intervention by the IGP, Police Service Commission and National Human Rights Commission.
The group said the redeployment of the Osun CP should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt, but as a confidence-building measure given the seriousness of the allegations against the command.
It also demanded independent investigations into the alleged killings and injuries, alleged collaboration between police personnel and political thugs, alleged politically motivated arrests, alleged police assistance in attempts to control motor parks, the detention of Accord members and the alleged relationship between the CP and Asiri Eniba.
HURIWA further called for investigations into all reported cases of political violence in the state, insisting that anyone found culpable—whether politician, thug, police officer or other security personnel—must face the law.
The organisation warned that the August 15 governorship election must not become a contest defined by violence, intimidation or arbitrary arrests.
“Osun State belongs to its people—not to APC thugs, not to Accord, not to PDP and certainly not to the police,” HURIWA said.
It urged the police to return to their constitutional responsibility of protecting Nigerians “without fear, favour or political affiliation.”