Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that members of the Accord Party arrested by the Osun State Police Command were transferred to Abuja and Nasarawa State for detention instead of being prosecuted in Osun State.

Speaking at the National Peace Committee stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo on Thursday, Adeleke questioned the transfer of the detainees, arguing that both the Federal and State High Courts in Osun were competent to handle any criminal prosecution.

He appealed to the National Peace Committee to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that those in custody are returned to Osun if they are to face trial.

The governor also urged the committee to engage President Bola Tinubu on what he described as the need to halt escalating political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

Adeleke further appealed to the peace committee to intervene in what he described as growing politically motivated violence, warning that the situation could worsen if urgent measures were not taken.

He alleged that some leaders and members of the Accord Party were being targeted through what he described as a collaboration between the Osun State Police Command and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the governor, several members of his party had allegedly been killed or injured in attacks over the past three months, while many others had been arrested and transferred outside the state.

He called on the police to remain neutral in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities, adding that other security agencies operating in the state had demonstrated greater professionalism and impartiality.

Adeleke maintained that his administration remained committed to peace and the rule of law, noting that Accord Party supporters had refrained from retaliation despite the alleged attacks.

He stressed that the people of Osun deserved a peaceful, credible and transparent governorship election in which the will of the electorate would prevail.

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The governor urged all stakeholders, including security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure a level playing field before, during and after the election.

The meeting was attended by members of the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd.). Also in attendance were Bishop Matthew Kukah, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, traditional rulers, security chiefs, political leaders and civil society organisations.

Adeleke maintained that despite the committee’s efforts to promote peaceful elections, political violence had continued in the state and called for urgent intervention to safeguard the electoral process.

Also, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has called on political actors in Osun State to shun violence and allow the people to decide the outcome of the August 15 governorship election, saying “Osun is bigger than all of us..

The monarch commended the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, for his consistency and commitment to electoral independence. He also applauded the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for his nationwide peace efforts.

“Professor Joash Amupitan. Like I said in the palace, you are the umpire now and we know that we are all looking up to God, and we are looking up to you,” the Ooni said. “You are opposing every nefarious activities, vote buying, every other thing that will not be very good and what will sustain the independence of INEC is what you stand for.”

He noted that President Bola Tinubu had recently affirmed INEC’s independence during a meeting with clergymen, adding that “everything INEC needs, he has provided for INEC. So the ball is in our hands because power belongs to us.”

The Ooni warned political leaders against inciting violence, saying the political tension in the state is high because the election is coming ahead of the 2027 general elections.