Osun State Government and the leadership of the Accord Party (AP) have raised concerns over what they described as credible reports of the creation and planned deployment of a special police squad to the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

According to the state government and the Accord Party leadership, the squad, allegedly led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (name withheld), is expected to arrive in the state any moment from now and commence operations focused on arresting prominent Accord Party members and some government officials, thereby putting their safety and security at risk.

In a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government expressed concern that such selective, partisan operations, if carried out, could heighten political tension in the state and expose state government officials and the party leaders to harassment and intimidation before and during the election period.

The AP leadership further alleged that the squad might have held meetings with leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, including its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in connection with logistics and operational arrangements ahead of the planned deployment.

The statement noted that the reported operation is believed to be outside the knowledge of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, a development the government described as troubling, given the sensitive political atmosphere in the state.

The Osun State Government and the Accord Party, therefore, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other security agencies, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely monitor developments in Osun State ahead of the governorship election.

ALSO, the Accord Party, yesterday, raised the alarm over what it described as a ‘second attack’ on Imole House, the Osogbo campaign office of Governor Ademola Adeleke, alleging that armed men opened fire on the premises and damaged parts of the building.

The allegation comes amid growing political tension ahead of the polls, with fears that the campaign atmosphere could become volatile in the weeks leading up to the election.

The claim was contained in a statement by the National Chairman of Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbuden, who alleged that the attack occurred on Sunday night.

According to the statement, glass windows were shattered during the incident, while offices inside the building, including that of the party’s State Chairman, Victor Akande, were damaged.

The Osun State Government statement further urged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities and to avoid actions that can undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The government also appealed to political stakeholders and supporters across party lines to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the preservation of peace and democratic stability in Osun State must remain paramount.

The statement, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the Osun State Government to lawful conduct and democratic engagement, while expressing confidence that the people of the state would freely exercise their electoral rights without fear or intimidation.