Osun Election: Adeleke Campaign Council Asks IGP to Redeploy Police Commissioner Over ‘Partisanship’

The Imole Campaign Council has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to redeploy the Commissioner of Police overseeing security for the Osun State governorship election, Ibrahim Gotan, over allegations of partisanship.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the campaign council, Bamidele Sallam, accused Gotan of allegedly supporting attacks against opposition supporters ahead of the August 15 election.

The council alleged that the police commissioner had aided attacks by suspected thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) against supporters of the Accord Party.

It further alleged that Gotan held a late-night meeting with some APC leaders on Thursday, describing the development as evidence of alleged political bias.

According to the campaign council, the commissioner was also allegedly “openly defying” the IGP’s directive that police officers deployed for election duties must remain neutral and non-partisan.

The council claimed that since his deployment to Osun, Gotan had operated what it described as a “parallel police structure” allegedly used to intimidate Accord leaders and supporters.

It also alleged that while the election commissioner was working to ensure peaceful conduct of the poll, the police commissioner had deployed special squads to arrest members of the Accord Party.

The campaign council therefore urged the IGP to immediately transfer Gotan out of Osun State, saying his redeployment would help create an environment for a credible election.

“We call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately transfer Mr Gotan out of Osun State to allow the presidential directive for a free and fair election to materialise,” the council said.

The group also demanded the immediate release of more than 60 Accord leaders and members it alleged were being detained illegally, including the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South, Alaba.

It further called for the disbandment of what it described as a secret police squad allegedly being used to support APC-linked thugs and intimidate Accord members.

The council urged the police authorities to take urgent action in the interest of democracy and the credibility of the electoral process.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, with security agencies under increasing pressure to ensure a peaceful, free and fair poll.