Admin AdminOSOGBO — The wife of Osun State Governor, Titilola Adeleke, on Monday led hundreds of women in a protest against what they described as indiscriminate arrests and rising violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The demonstration brought together women from different groups of traders and artisans, who marched through Osogbo carrying placards and calling for peace as political tension rises across the state.
The protest began along the Osogbo–Ilobu Road and ended near the Osun State Police Command along the West Bypass. The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotosho, also participated.
Women Take Their Anger to the Streets
The protesters said they were concerned about the growing tension surrounding the election and called for an end to what they described as violence and indiscriminate arrests.
Adeleke also raised concerns about the alleged arrest of leaders of the Accord Party in the state.
She urged the police to investigate incidents of violence and take appropriate action against anyone found responsible.
The governor’s wife said the women were demanding a free, fair and peaceful election, stressing that the people of Osun should be allowed to exercise their democratic rights without fear.
Police Respond to Protesters
Receiving the protesters, the Commissioner of Police deployed for the election, Samuel Etaifo, assured residents that security agencies were working to create a peaceful environment for the poll.
Etaifo said he had been deployed to Osun to help stabilise the political environment and ensure that all political actors could participate peacefully.
He commended the women for conducting what he described as a peaceful demonstration but urged them to disperse to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order.
The police commissioner also acknowledged the heightened political tension in the state, noting that the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had visited Osun and directed the deployment of a commissioner specifically for election duties ahead of the poll.
Election Day Approaches
The protest comes just days before the August 15 Osun governorship election, placing renewed attention on the security situation in the state.
Political parties and civil society groups have increasingly called for a peaceful election, with concerns about intimidation, arrests and possible violence dominating parts of the pre-election conversation.
Adeleke’s campaign council had earlier urged the Inspector-General of Police to guarantee a peaceful and impartial election, while other political actors have also appealed to supporters to avoid violence.
A Call for Peace Before the Ballots
With election day fast approaching, the latest demonstration has added another voice to calls for calm.
For the women who marched through Osogbo, the message was direct: political disagreements should not cost lives, and the ballot box should replace confrontation.
The police, meanwhile, face the task of maintaining security while ensuring that voters and political parties are able to participate freely.
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