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Osun First Lady Titilola Adeleke leads hundreds of women in a massive protest to the state police headquarters, alleging intimidation of political leaders.
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Protesters condemn rising political violence and killings across the state, urge President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to intervene
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Women insist that voters must be allowed to cast their ballots freely without fear, harassment, or violence, warning that political ambition should never be allowed to claim innocent lives or undermine democracy.
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Election security chief, CP Samuel Etaifo, receives the protesters’ petition, assures residents of a peaceful and credible governorship poll, and promises to review the police operational strategy ahead of the August 15 election.
August 10, (THEWILL) — With just days to the August 15 governorship election, political tension in Osun State intensified on Monday as the First Lady, Titilola Adeleke, led hundreds of women in a defiant march through the streets of Osogbo, demanding an end to alleged police intimidation of political actors and warning security agencies to “leave our leaders alone.”
The protesters, who converged from different parts of the state, marched from the Lameco area through the West Bypass to the Osun State Police Command headquarters, carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Stop Electoral Violence,” “We Want Ballots, Not Bullets,” “Election Is Not War,” “Vote, Don’t Fight,” and “Stop the Killings in Osun.” They chanted solidarity songs while calling for peaceful, free, and credible elections.
The First Lady was accompanied by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotoso, and other women leaders.
At the police headquarters, the women submitted a petition to the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security in Osun, CP Samuel Etaifo, accusing security agencies of intimidation and demanding neutrality before, during, and after Saturday’s governorship election.
Women leaders address journalists during Monday’s protest in Osogbo, condemning political violence, alleged police intimidation and killings while calling for a peaceful, free and credible Osun governorship election on August 15.
Adeleke Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot To Arrest Political Leaders
Addressing journalists after submitting the petition, Adeleke alleged that opposition forces were working with security agencies to arrest prominent political figures ahead of the election in a bid to create fear among supporters.
She cited the recent arrest of the Commissioner for Environment, claiming he was humiliated while in police custody.
“From what we heard, we learnt that they will start picking our leaders up this week. Last Friday, they picked up the Commissioner for the Environment. He was brought here, stripped naked. This is not good enough. They should leave our people alone,” she said.
She urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to guarantee a level playing field for all political parties and ensure that residents cast their votes without harassment, intimidation, or fear.
READ ALSO: Police Deploy CP Samuel Etaifo to Lead Osun Governorship Election Security
Beyond the allegations of intimidation, the protesters expressed concern over the recent wave of political violence in the state, including the killing of a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu and several other reported deaths that have heightened anxiety ahead of the election.
One of the protest leaders, identified simply as Eniola, condemned the violence, insisting that no political ambition was worth the loss of innocent lives.
“Our children, husbands, brothers, and sisters must not become casualties of political ambition. Elections come and go, but human lives cannot be replaced,” she said.
The women appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to intervene urgently to prevent further bloodshed, alleging that the security situation in the state had become increasingly troubling.
They also demanded the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, alleging perceived partisanship and urging the Nigeria Police Force to ensure equal protection for all political parties, candidates, and their supporters.
According to them, every reported case of violence, intimidation, and unlawful conduct should be thoroughly investigated, with perpetrators brought to justice irrespective of political affiliation.
Responding to the protesters, CP Samuel Etaifo assured them that the police remained committed to delivering a peaceful, transparent, and credible governorship election.
While receiving the petition, however, he cautioned that protests capable of inflaming political passions could undermine the peaceful atmosphere the police were working to maintain.
“If you notice, since I came, we have relative peace in the state. But the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again,” Etaifo said.
The commissioner explained that he was deployed to Osun by the Inspector-General of Police specifically to stabilise the security situation and restore public confidence ahead of the election.
“I have the mandate of the Inspector-General of Police to come to the state and stabilise things, give an enabling environment for every political actor to exercise their franchise, to create public confidence for everyone to come out to vote on election day,” he stated.
Etaifo assured the protesters that their complaints would be carefully reviewed, promising that the police would reassess their operational strategy where necessary.
“We are going to go back and restrategise to attend to all your demands,” he added.
Monday’s protest underscored growing political anxiety in Osun as parties intensify campaigns ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. With allegations of intimidation, increasing concerns over political violence, and renewed calls for security neutrality, the conduct of the poll is expected to come under intense national scrutiny.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
