Osun APC, Accord Party Trade Allegations Over Fresh Violence, Arrests In Iree Town | Sahara Reporters

The conflicting claims were contained in separate statements issued on Wednesday by the two parties as political tensions continued in the community following the governorship election.

The Osun State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party have traded allegations over fresh violence and arrests in Iree, Boripe Local Government Area of the state, five days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Ademola Adeleke winner of the August 15 governorship election.

The APC had alleged that the Accord Party hoodlums attacked its members and supporters in Iree, leaving no fewer than 10 people critically injured and destroying several properties, including the town’s major motor park and business premises belonging to some of its members.

However, the Accord Party has rejected the allegations, accusing the Nigerian police of arresting five of its members who it said had stopped alleged attempts by APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes during the election.

The conflicting claims were contained in separate statements issued on Wednesday by the two parties as political tensions continued in the community following the governorship election.

The APC, in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, condemned what it described as “Attack Of Our Members In Iree By Accord Party Thugs Uncalled For, Wicked, Barbaric”.

The party alleged that no fewer than 10 APC members and supporters were critically injured in an “organised” attack allegedly carried out by suspected Accord Party members.

It identified some of the alleged victims as Ige Kayode, Oyeniyi Segun, Oladosu Yinka, Sobalaje Ibraheem and Peter Korede Adejare, saying they were receiving treatment in hospitals in Iree and neighbouring towns.

According to the APC, the attacks began following the declaration of the election results and involved the destruction of properties belonging to its members.

“The major motor park in the town was completely demolished, while the business places of some APC members were also attacked at various locations in the town,” the party alleged.

The APC also raised allegations against the Aree of Iree, Oba Muritala Oyelakin, claiming that a viral video showed the traditional ruler interrogating one of the alleged victims, an APC member, “under duress” at his residence.

The party said a petition by counsel to some of the affected APC members, Abiodun Olaide, and forwarded to the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibraheem Gotan, accused Gbadamosi Ibraheem, popularly known as Gbedu Lasisi Oyekanmi Bintin Laye, and other suspects currently at large of allegedly spearheading the attacks.

The APC further alleged that some of its members who were attacked were subsequently taken to the palace of the traditional ruler for questioning on the monarch’s directive.

“We, as a party, are expressing a deep concern over the unfavourable reports that some of our members who were attacked by the Accord Party hoodlums were subsequently taken to the palace of the traditional ruler for questioning on the directive of the monarch in order to put pressure on them to implicate some of the APC leaders in the matters unrelated to them,” the party said.

It also alleged that the monarch directed the demolition of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) garage in Iree over the political affiliations of some of its members.

“We are also frowning at an alleged directive of the questionable monarch to demolish the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) garage in Iree over the political affiliations of some of its members,” the APC stated.

The party said the developments had created considerable tension in Iree, with residents and political supporters reportedly living in fear for their safety.

It therefore called on the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), other security agencies and the Federal Government to urgently intervene and thoroughly investigate the allegations.

The APC also demanded the prosecution of anyone found responsible for acts of violence, intimidation or destruction of property.

But reacting to the allegations, the Accord Party gave a different account of the events, accusing the police of arresting five of its members who allegedly defended the electoral process.

The Accord state chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, said a police officer popularly known as Eluku led a team to raid the residence of Accord members in Iree on Tuesday night and arrested five members of the party.

“A police officer popularly known as Eluku has arrested five Accord members at Iree for their roles at stopping ballot box snatching during last Saturday’s election,” Akande said.

He alleged that the arrested members were taken to Osogbo after their detention.

“The police officer led his team last night to raid Accord members’ house at Iree, arresting and whisking them away to Osogbo,” he added.

According to Akande, eyewitnesses reported that the arrested Accord members had stood their ground to prevent APC thugs from allegedly snatching ballot boxes after ward counting had been concluded.

“Eyewitnesses reported that the arrested Accord members had stood their ground to stop APC thugs from snatching ballot boxes after ward counting was concluded,” he said.

The Accord chairman further alleged that APC thugs, backed by what he described as rogue elements within the police, had arrived in Iree and allegedly opened fire in an attempt to snatch ballot boxes.

“The APC thugs backed by rogue elements from the police had arrived Iree, shooting sporadically in a bid to snatch ballot boxes,” Akande alleged.

He called on the Osun State Police Command to immediately release the five arrested members, describing their arrest as a “misnormer”.

“Accord state chairman, Pastor Victor Akande called on the state police command to immediately release the arrested Accord members, calling their arrest a misnormer,” the statement said.

Akande accused the police of arresting residents who, according to him, had defended their votes rather than those allegedly responsible for the violence.

“We expect the police to arrest the thugs who unleashed violence on the Iree people instead of Iree people who defended their votes from electoral bandits. Instead of arresting the thieves, the police are now arresting those who repelled the thieves,” he stated.

He further alleged that the Iree community had been left to defend itself during the alleged attack.

“The Iree community defended themselves against a combined team of thugs and rogue police who launched attacks. The police did not come to the people’s aid. Yet, the police is now arresting the people,” Akande said.
Describing the alleged arrests as “inhuman and anti-people”, the Accord chairman demanded the immediate release of the detained members.

“This is inhuman and anti-people. The police command should release the arrested Accord members without delay”, the Accord Chairman stated.

The allegations by the two parties could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

The latest development has further heightened tensions in Iree, where both parties have presented sharply contrasting accounts of events surrounding the election and its aftermath.

While the APC is demanding investigation into alleged attacks on its members and the alleged role of the traditional ruler, Accord is demanding the release of its members and accusing the police of failing to protect residents during the alleged attempt to snatch electoral materials.

The APC maintained that political differences must not be allowed to degenerate into violence, intimidation or destruction of livelihoods.

“Our party remains committed to peace, democracy and the rule of law. Political differences must not become a justification for violence, intimidation or the destruction of means of livelihoods of the people,” the party stated.