The Accord Party on Thursday, alleged that the Nigeria Police Force orchestrated a campaign of intimidation against its members and top government officials ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

The party also called for the immediate release of its detained members and the removal of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, whom it accused of partisanship.

In a statement, the National Chairman of Accord, Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem, alleged that the police, in collaboration with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), had embarked on a coordinated campaign of arrests, intimidation and harassment aimed at frustrating the party’s campaign ahead of the governorship election.

He said that the actions of security operatives threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy.

According to him, while Accord has continued to conduct peaceful grassroots campaigns across the state, its members and supporters have allegedly come under sustained attacks.

Mgbudem said: “Unfortunately, while the party is preparing for the election, the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state in collaboration with the Osun State Police Command and thugs associated with the APC have been unleashing unprecedented assaults on the nation’s democracy to undermine the gubernatorial poll.

“The danger is very glaring and must be forestalled immediately by all stakeholders in the electoral process to save our hard earned democracy. Accord had previously addressed the media on the mindless killing of its leaders and supporters, multiple attacks on Imole Campaign Council and party’s offices, destruction of campaign billboards etc, by thugs associated with the All Progressives Congress.

“These attacks were duly reported to the Police and other security agencies in the state, sadly none of these known hoodlums was arrested let alone prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. It was this apparent Police compromise that forced Accord to demand the removal of the Osun State Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan as he has become partisan.

“As of today, about 100 Accord leaders, candidates, members and supporters across the state have been arrested and detained by the police. Some of them were moved to Abuja. It is glaring that their arrests are politically motivated to frustrate, weaken and dampen our party’s campaign efforts in Osun State.”

He urged residents of the state to remain peaceful, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the governorship election.

He also accused security operatives of invading the residences of six commissioners and the Secretary to the State Government in what he described as “Gestapo-style operations,” condemning the arrests and detentions of government officials, party leaders and members without formal charges.

The party maintained that the alleged actions of the police have reinforced concerns that federal security agencies are being deployed to influence the outcome of the election.

He added, “Accord condemns in strong terms this targeted harassment, intimidation, oppression, arrest and detention of top government officials, party leaders and members by the police without charges. It is draconian and unacceptable.

“It is obvious that the Osun State Police Command is partisan in this election, giving credence to the APC national leaders’ boast of state capture through the deployment of federal might.”

Accord appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, civil society organisations, the international community and other stakeholders to intervene to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

The party reiterated its demand for the removal of the Osun State Commissioner of Police before the election, insisting that such a step was necessary to ensure a level playing field for all political parties participating in the poll.

Mgbudem said the alleged intimidation would not deter the party from participating in the election, expressing confidence that Osun voters would freely elect their preferred candidate.

“The good people of Osun State are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will massively re-elect him on August 15. Imole’s achievements, despite efforts to destabilise the state by anti-democratic forces, speak for themselves,” he said.