The wife of Osun State Governor, Titilola Adeleke, led a protest in Osogbo on Monday, demanding an end to alleged targeted arrests and violence ahead of Saturday's governorship election. The protest, which saw a group of women marching through the streets of Osogbo, was sparked by a disturbing claim involving the state's Commissioner for Environment.
Protesters Demand End to Alleged Violence
Carrying placards with messages like "Election is not war" and "Stop indiscriminate arrest of our husbands," the women marched from Osogbo-Ilobu Road toward the Osun State Police Command, before being stopped just short of the entrance. The protest was led by Titilola Adeleke, who alleged that the state's Commissioner for Environment was stripped naked after being taken into custody last Friday.
Police Accept Demands, Warn of Potential Clashes
The police commissioner overseeing election matters in the state, Samuel Etaifo, accepted a letter outlining the protesters' demands. Etaifo credited his team's efforts with a period of relative peace in the run-up to the vote, but warned that public demonstrations so close to election day carried their own risk of triggering fresh unrest if rival groups ended up crossing paths.
Commissioner Alleges Strip-Search of APC Official
According to Titilola Adeleke, the state's Commissioner for Environment was picked up days earlier and, once in custody, stripped naked. Adeleke called on police to summon senior APC figures for questioning over what she described as rising violence targeting people connected to the ruling party in the state. "Invite APC chieftains for questioning. They should stop killing our husbands and children. Make them sign an undertaking," she said.
Police Commissioner Issues Warning to Election Interferers
Etaifo also issued a broader warning aimed at anyone planning to interfere with Saturday's vote, saying election manipulation would not be tolerated. "If you are a manipulator of any election, that is even the worst. I will arrest you and take you to Abuja because this election is a federal election; we must get it right," he said.
The protest was eventually dispersed, with officers escorting the women back to where the march began. The wife of Osun State Governor, Titilola Adeleke, has called for an end to what she describes as targeted arrests and violence ahead of the election. The situation remains tense in the lead-up to Saturday's vote.
Source: Pulse.ng
