The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State has condemned the widespread arrest of its leaders by the police, claiming that the move was made in an effort to influence the State Assembly elections on Saturday.

In a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, the acting state chairman of the party, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, stated that PDP members would peacefully occupy police offices throughout the state unless the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Baba Alkali, stopped the ongoing arrest of its leaders.

The party stated that the IGP Alkali was obligated to act impartially when enforcing the law and that the police boss should not take orders from the All Progressives Congress chieftains regarding who to arrest or detain.

"Our leaders are being arrested in a bid to rig Saturday's election," said a portion of the statement. We will reject any attempt to rig the polls. In the most recent polls, Osun residents overwhelmingly supported PDP. They are prepared to exercise their voting rights again in full freedom. A violation of democracy and fundamental human rights occurs when our leaders are detained on Kangaroo charges.

We ask the Inspector General of Police to stop serving the APC's bad interests. It is the boss of the police's sacred duty to uphold the law without bias or favoring one political party over another. It is unacceptable for the IGP to receive instructions from APC chieftains regarding whom to arrest or detain. This is not a military dictatorship but rather a democracy.

We won't use our own efforts. We are reputable residents and a decision party in Osun state. However, if this harassment of our members continues, we will mobilize and peacefully storm all Osun state police stations. Allow the IGP to detain every Osun PDP member.

When contacted, Mr. Kola Olabisi, Osun APC's spokesperson, promised to respond to the statement; however, as of the time this report was written, he has not done so.

However, Yemisi Opalola, the spokesperson for the Osun Police Command, insisted that the command was pursuing criminals and dismissed the alleged indiscriminate arrest of members of any particular group.

In order for law-abiding residents to continue living in peace, Opalola stated that police would continue to arrest criminals and asked for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure effective policing throughout the state.

We are not politicians; we are police. We are looking for criminals, so if we make an arrest, the suspect must have broken the law.

"We are not part of any political party.

Criminals will be part of one or the other group. We are unconcerned about the fact that we do not know. The safety of individuals and property is our primary concern. As law enforcement officers, we will detain anyone who disturbs public order.