Fresh controversy has erupted over the continued detention of an Accord Party chieftain and House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Popoola Alaba, popularly known as Alabama, as the party’s governorship campaign council alleged that the Nigeria Police Force is holding him on the direct orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s successor, IGP Olatunji Disu, despite the absence of any formal petition or criminal charges.
The explosive allegation was made by the spokesperson of the Accord Party Governorship Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who described the development as a dangerous abuse of state power and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Olajengbesi claimed that officers handling the investigation admitted there was neither a petition against Alaba nor any incriminating evidence linking him to a crime, yet insisted they were acting on instructions from the Inspector-General of Police.
«”We met with the officers in charge of the investigation against Popoola Alaba, and they said there is no petition against him, nothing was found on him, and it’s unfortunate that the instruction is from the IGP. This is the sad experience we have in Osun State,” Olajengbesi alleged.»
Alaba was arrested in Osun State before being transferred to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) facility in Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, where he has remained in detention without being arraigned before any court.
Sources familiar with the matter said the exact reason for his detention remains unclear, as no official charges have been filed against him since his arrest.
Although there have been reports suggesting that investigators may be linking him to alleged illegal mining activities, the police have yet to make any formal announcement confirming such allegations.
The prolonged detention has intensified political tensions in Osun State, with the Adeleke Campaign Council describing the arrest as politically motivated and aimed at weakening the Accord Party ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Imole Campaign Council Media and Publicity Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, the council demanded Alaba’s immediate and unconditional release, alleging that he and three other Accord Party members were arrested while attending a political meeting.
According to the council, armed police officers reportedly stormed the meeting venue, forcefully arrested the politicians, and allegedly assaulted several party supporters before taking the detainees to the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo.
The campaign further alleged that the operation was orchestrated to prevent Accord Party leaders from participating in political activities ahead of the election.
It also accused Senator Francis Fadahunsi of masterminding the arrests, claiming intelligence reports indicated that the operation followed a secret meeting involving the senator, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, and another senior security official.
Neither Senator Fadahunsi, the Nigeria Police Force, nor the Inspector-General of Police has publicly responded to the allegations.
The Accord and Adeleke campaign councils have warned that the continued detention of Alaba without formal charges raises serious concerns about the rule of law, due process, and the neutrality of security agencies during the election period.
They also vowed to hold the Osun State Police Command responsible should any harm befall the detained politician while in custody.