By SCM Political Desk I Wednesday, August 05, 2026
OSOGBO — Political tension reached a fever pitch in Osun State on Wednesday following reported early-morning raids by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on the Osogbo and Ilesa residences of Hon. Ibukun Ishola Fadipe, popularly known as IBK, the Accord candidate for the Osun East Senatorial District.
The coordinated operation, which reportedly threw residents of both communities into panic, has triggered accusations of political witch-hunting and state-sponsored intimidation aimed at weakening opposition forces ahead of the upcoming election.
According to top party chieftains in Osogbo, heavy armed security personnel cordoned off the private premises of the Accord senatorial flagbearer simultaneously in the state capital and his home base in Ilesa.
Sources within the Accord hierarchy alleged that the tactical operation was carried out at the behest of the incumbent lawmaker representing Osun East, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, in an attempt to effect IBK’s arrest and destabilize his campaign infrastructure.
Accord Party Alleges Harassment, Vows No Retreat.
Reacting to the development, leaders of the Accord Party in Osun State issued a stern statement condemning what they characterized as an unprovoked assault on democratic principles and the rule of law.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday afternoon, state party officials insisted that no amount of state coercion, police harassment, or subterranean political maneuvering would alter the determination of the electorate in Osun East.
”This sudden and aggressive raid on the homes of our candidate, Hon. Ibukun Ishola Fadipe (IBK), is a clear act of desperation by political forces terrified of the overwhelming acceptance our party enjoys across Ijeshaland and the entire senatorial district,” a senior Accord official declared.
”Using federal security agencies to track down and harass political opponents will not save any failing campaign. The resolve of the people of Osun East to vote for real representation remains unshaken, and we will not be intimidated.”
The party called on civil society groups, election monitoring organizations, and the international community to keep a close watch on Osun State, warning that actions capable of undermining a level playing field could derail peace in the region.
Background: Adeleke’s SOS to President Tinubu
Wednesday’s raid occurs against the backdrop of an already charged political atmosphere in Osun State. Just days prior to the incident, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke issued a high-profile appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the Commander-in-Chief to intervene and halt what he described as targeted political persecution and selective arrests of opposition leaders.
Governor Adeleke had warned that key state security channels were allegedly being leveraged by political interests to orchestrate violence, intimidate party supporters, and manipulate the electoral process ahead of the polls.
Political analysts note that Osun East—comprising the six local government areas of Ijeshaland—has historically served as a fiercely contested battleground in Osun State politics. The entry of Hon. Ibukun Ishola Fadipe (IBK) under the Accord banner has significantly altered traditional voting dynamics in the district, turning the race into a high-stakes contest against established political heavyweights, including the incumbent Senator Francis Fadahunsi.
Observers suggest that the clash between the camps of Fadahunsi and IBK reflects deepening fractures across the district as key political actors fight for control of the strategically vital senatorial seat.
Police Maintain Silence Amid Growing Concern
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Force Headquarters in Abuja nor the Osun State Police Command had issued an official statement regarding the purpose of the IRT operation or confirmed whether any arrests were made during the raids in Osogbo and Ilesa.
Efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer and representatives of Senator Francis Fadahunsi for official responses were unsuccessful at press time, as calls and messages remained unanswered.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened around major junctions in Ilesa and key residential areas in Osogbo, with party loyalists monitoring developments closely.
Voters and community leaders across Osun East continue to express anxiety over the escalating pre-election skirmishes, appealing to national police authorities to maintain neutrality and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
