Osun Guber: Lawyers Give INEC, Police Seven-Day Ultimatum To Probe Alleged Violence Instigators

Legal practitioners under the ageis of Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA), has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly investigate actors who allegedly made inciting statements that instigated violence in last Saturday’s Osun state governorship election.

National Coordinator of COPA, Ajibola Bello, who gave the ultimatum at a press conference in Abuja on Friday also said the allegations go beyond political parties and election results.

He particularly demanded a thorough investigation into videos allegedly showing political actors threatening opponents, seeking to prevent citizens from voting and, in one instance, calling for the killing of members of an opposition party.

Bello expressed worry that violence subsequently occurred in some communities where the alleged statements were made or directed, resulting in the deaths of several persons.

He emphasised that the outcome of the election could not terminate criminal responsibility for offences allegedly committed before or during the poll.

The COPA leader said the coalition had reviewed a video linked to a leading figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in which he allegedly made a statement in Yoruba warning political opponents against going against President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the statement made at the commencement of the campaign, was followed by serious political violence in Esa-Oke including the killing of a citizen.

Bello however, cautioned that COPA was not claiming that the statement, standing alone, established criminal responsibility for any subsequent killing.

“That determination belongs to investigators and ultimately the courts,” stressing that the statement and the violence that followed were sufficient grounds for a thorough and impartial investigation.

The coalition coordinator also expressed concerns over a video allegedly showing a serving lawmaker, calling on supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.

Bello said the alleged statement was followed by serious political violence in Ilesa and surrounding areas, where more than nine people were reportedly killed.

“Where a serving Senator is recorded allegedly telling supporters to kill members of an opposing political party, and people subsequently lose their lives in election-related violence, the institutions established by law cannot simply look away,” he said.

Bello said the issue was not whether the senator was guilty, but whether the allegations warranted investigation and, where sufficient evidence existed, prosecution.

COPA also cited a video attributed to Francis Eniade, in which he was allegedly heard telling non-APC members not to come out to vote.

Bello said Eniade was also allegedly recorded warning members of the Accord Party against coming out to vote and specifically naming the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.

The coalition argued that no political actor had the authority to determine who could exercise the constitutional right to vote.

It said threats, intimidation or attempts to compel citizens to refrain from voting on the basis of political affiliation struck at the foundation of democratic government.

Bello said the alleged statements should not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric, arguing that they raised questions of potential criminal liability under the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.

He particularly challenged INEC to exercise its statutory responsibility in dealing with electoral offences.
According to him, Section 148(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 provides that prosecution of offences under the Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of INEC or legal practitioners appointed by the commission.

Bello urged the umpire to act on any electoral offences disclosed by evidence rather than leave the matter entirely to the security agencies.

He said the police and other appropriate security agencies should investigate the allegations, authenticate the videos, identify and interview the persons involved, speak to witnesses and establish the circumstances surrounding the reported killings and other acts of violence.

Bello stated that the relevant investigation files should subsequently be transmitted for prosecution where the evidence warranted such action.

“There can therefore be no institutional buck-passing,” the coordinator said.

The coalition expressed concern over alleged political protection, saying it had received reports suggesting that the failure to prosecute or investigate some of the persons involved could be connected to their membership or association with the APC.

Bello described the allegation as serious and challenged INEC and the police to disprove it through their actions.

“The easiest way to disprove an allegation of selective justice is to enforce the law without fear or favour,” he said.

Bello called on INEC to exercise its prosecutorial powers under Section 148 of the Electoral Act 2026 and ensure that anyone against whom sufficient evidence of an offence exists is charged before a competent court.

He stressed that the coalition was not asking the authorities to pronounce the accused persons guilty.

“We are demanding investigation, prosecution where the evidence meets the legal threshold, and determination of guilt or innocence by a court of competent jurisdiction,”he added.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of
The Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation of Osun state Governor Ademola Adeleke, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has dismissed insinuations that the Osun State governor will be joining the APC after his visit to President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Olajengbesi said Adeleke’s visit to Tinubu was a courtesy call and a demonstration of respect for the office of the president, insisting that the governor remained a member of the Accord Party.

“The visit of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the proper thing to do. It is the norm; it is the standard.
We all agree that Nigeria is a federation. We have three tiers of government — the Federal Government, the state government and, of course, the local government.

“Osun State is a sub-nation now under the Nigerian government, and we don’t intend to take Osun State out of Nigeria. So we understand, and I think the governor deemed it necessary to pay a courtesy call to Mr President as a sign of respect to the office of the president.

“The visit of Mr Governor to Mr President is not taking the people of Osun state for granted, but the intention is to amplify the aspiration of the people of Osun state.

“The essence of that visit has nothing to do with Governor Ademola Adeleke joining APC. It’s an impossibility. Governor Ademola Adeleke is not joining APC,” he said.

Olajengbesi also dismissed claims that the African Democratic Congress(ADC) worked with the Accord Party’s candidate, Govenror Adeleke in last weekend election.

“ADC did not reach out to us. We are not interested in collaborating with any political party,” he said.