Osun election: Adeleke campaign council asks IGP to redeploy police commissioner over ‘partisanship’

The Imole Campaign Council has asked the inspector-general of police (IGP) to redeploy Ibrahim Gotan, the commissioner of police overseeing security for the Osun governorship election, alleging that he has acted in a partisan manner ahead of the poll.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Bamidele Sallam, chairman of the media and publicity sub-committee of the campaign council, accused Gotan of aiding alleged attacks by thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) against supporters of the Accord Party.

The council alleged that the police commissioner held a late-night meeting on Thursday with some APC leaders.

The campaign council further alleged that the police commissioner is “openly defying” the directive of the IGP that officers deployed for election duty should remain non-partisan.

The campaign council also claimed that since his deployment to the state, Gotan has been operating a “parallel police structure” to intimidate Accord leaders and supporters.

The council claimed that while the election commissioner was working to ensure peaceful polls, the police commissioner had allegedly deployed special squads to arrest Accord members.

“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 statement reads.

“We demand immediate release of over 60 Accord leaders and members under illegal detention, including an Accord candidate for House of Representatives for Ijesa South, Hon. Alaba.

“We further demand immediate disbandment of secret police squad being used by Mr Gotan to support APC thugs in their daily attacks on Osun Accord members.

“In the best interest of democracy, in pursuance of IGP direct order to police officers and in compliance with presidential directive for free and fair election in Osun state, we demand immediate urgent action of the Inspector General of Police.”

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