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Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign organisation, the Imole Campaign Council, TICC, has accused the Osun State Police Command of allegedly taking steps capable of influencing the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The council further claimed that the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, was driven by political considerations.

In a statement released on Thursday by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the campaign body described the operation as an abuse of power, alleging that it exposed what it termed the police command’s bias ahead of the governorship poll.

“The Osun Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, had departed from its constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order and had instead become involved in political activities.

“The arrest of Igbalaye and others was part of an attempt to remove key Accord leaders and mobilisers from the political scene before the governorship poll. We reject allegations linking the arrested individuals to criminal activities.

“The unlawful raid on the home and arrest of the SSG, Hon. Igbalaye, has proven our concerns right. Attempts by the police to portray the arrested officials as criminals is nothing but a comical relief hurriedly put up to whitewash a terrible policing job,” the campaign team said.

TICC maintained that any police watch list is strictly an internal security document unless the person concerned has officially been declared wanted.

It described references to such a list in connection with Igbalaye as “irresponsible and a brazen act of blackmail”.

The campaign council also faulted the police’s interpretation of the Electoral Act, arguing that the Electoral Act 2026 does not support allegations of vote-buying more than two weeks before an election.

It insisted that the provision relied upon by the police applies only to activities on election day.

Addressing the reported recovery of ₦4.8 million during the operation, the council argued that there is no law preventing an individual from possessing such an amount of money.

It further stated that the sum falls below the limit prescribed for individuals under the Money Laundering Act.

According to TICC, “The funds were intended to cover logistics, including transportation costs for Accord mobilisers attending a political meeting. Possession of the voters’ register did not constitute an electoral offence because the register is publicly available to all participating political parties.”

The statement further alleged that individuals believed to be supporters of the APC recently invaded collation centres in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Akarabata in Ile-Ife, making away with Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.

It claimed that the incidents were raised during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo but alleged that no action had been taken by the police against those allegedly involved.

“We urge the Osun Police Command to note that it is not a political party nor an arm of the APC, but a public institution funded by taxpayers’ money. Accord members are being subjected to harassment and intimidation without legal justification,” it stated.

The campaign council called on the police to immediately release Igbalaye alongside the other individuals currently in detention.

“Democracy should be about the contest of ideas, not the rule of force, and the Police should know that its job is strictly law enforcement, not forcing leadership choice on the people.”

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