Adeleke Demands Immediate Release of Osun PDP Chairman After Reported Arrest
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Levi Nwabueze
OSOGBO, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA — Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the reported arrest of the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Sunday Bisi, following Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, described the reported arrest as an alleged abuse of law enforcement and an attempt to undermine democratic freedoms during the electoral process.
According to Rasheed, Bisi was reportedly arrested at his residence in Ilesa shortly after returning from his polling unit, where he had exercised his civic responsibility. The spokesperson said the circumstances surrounding the arrest remained unclear, adding that the PDP chairman’s whereabouts and the reason for his detention were not immediately known.
The governor expressed concern that the reported arrest could be connected to efforts to intimidate members and supporters of the PDP at a critical stage of the electoral process, particularly during the collation and announcement of results.
Adeleke consequently called for the immediate release of Bisi and other political detainees allegedly held in connection with the election.
The governor said the electoral process should provide an environment where voters, political parties, candidates and their supporters can freely participate without fear of intimidation, harassment or coercion.
He further described the reported development as a serious concern for democratic governance, stressing that political differences should not become a basis for restricting citizens or party officials from exercising their constitutional rights.
The reported arrest comes as attention remains focused on the conduct and outcome of the Osun State governorship election, with political parties and their supporters closely monitoring the collation of results across the state.
The election has attracted significant political interest, with the major parties campaigning extensively ahead of the poll. Security agencies have also maintained a visible presence across several parts of the state as authorities sought to prevent violence and electoral disruptions.
Osun has historically witnessed keenly contested elections, making the activities surrounding polling, result collation and the declaration of results particularly sensitive.
Governor Adeleke urged all institutions involved in the electoral process to respect the rights of citizens and political actors while ensuring that the will of the electorate is protected.
He also appealed for restraint among political parties and their supporters, stressing the need for all stakeholders to allow the electoral authorities to perform their statutory responsibilities.
The governor maintained that the outcome of the election should reflect the genuine choice of Osun voters and urged authorities to ensure that no action undermines public confidence in the democratic process.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no independent confirmation of the circumstances of Sunday Bisi’s reported arrest or an official explanation from the relevant security authorities regarding the allegation.
The development is expected to attract further reactions from political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as the collation of results continues.
