Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has alleged that a police directive has been issued for the immediate arrest of leaders of the Accord Party in the state, claiming that those arrested would be taken to Abuja and detained until after Saturday’s governorship election.

Adeleke made the allegation on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during an emergency press briefing on what he described as two major developments on the Osun political landscape ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The governor said he had received what he described as credible reports that a police signal had arrived in Osun State directing the immediate arrest of Accord Party leaders.

“We have credible reports that a police signal has arrived in Osun directing immediate arrest of Accord Party leaders. We also know the directive includes that they should be taken to Abuja immediately and should not be released until Monday,” Adeleke said.

The governor said he had spoken with the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, over the reported directive, but appealed to the police authorities to intervene if the alleged order exists.

“I have spoken to the Inspector General of Police about the reported directive to arrest Accord Party leaders. But I am appealing to him that this development, if true, is illegal, and presents Nigeria as a lawless country,” he said.

Adeleke alleged that arresting Accord Party leaders on the eve of an election would amount to assisting the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the electoral process.

“I task the IGP to issue a statement to assure Nigerians that no order has been given to arrest Accord Party leaders in Osun State,” Adeleke said.

He described any such arrests as “illegal” and a threat to the democratic process, particularly if the affected party leaders were arrested on what he called “trumped-up charges.”

“It is disturbing that we still have over 62 Accord Party leaders held in illegal police detention without any charges against them. This is not democracy,” Adeleke said.

The governor also raised concerns over a viral video allegedly showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, making statements threatening Accord Party members and their families.

Adeleke described the alleged remarks as a development that had gone beyond political rivalry and had become a national security concern.

“The second issue has to do with the viral video of a serving senator, Francis Fadahunsi who today called for the killing of Accord Party leaders and their families,” he said.

“In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children,” Adeleke alleged.

The governor said the alleged statements required intervention beyond the political sphere, calling for the involvement of President Bola Tinubu through the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the office of the National Security Adviser,” Adeleke said.

He added that he had raised the matter with the Inspector-General of Police and demanded the immediate investigation and arrest of the senator.

“I have raised this issue with the IGP and demanded for the immediate investigation and arrest of Senator Fadahunsi. The IGP has confirmed the video and assured of immediate action,” Adeleke said.

Adeleke also called on the Inspector-General of Police to stop what he described as the “illegal operations” of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), alleging that the unit had been arresting Accord Party leaders across local government areas in Osun State.

The governor further called on the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest Fadahunsi over what he described as alleged incitement to genocide against people in Ijesaland and Osun State.

“We ask that the police and the DSS immediately arrest Senator Fadahunsi for his incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesahland and Osun state,” Adeleke said.

He said such action would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law.

“This is to prove to the world that Nigeria is a state governed by the rule of law,” he said.

The governor also demanded that the police enforce what he described as due process and fair policing ahead of the election.

“We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun state,” Adeleke said.

He called on the police and other security agencies to operate within the law and adhere to their constitutional and professional responsibilities before, during and after the election.