The Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun State on Tuesday called for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, saying his continued stay poses a threat to credible policing ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.
The coalition, which includes the Social Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy; Centre for Accountability and Democracy, Mekunnu Koya, Good Governance Initiative, Youths for Better Initiative and Grassroots Watch, while addressing journalists, commended the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, for his swift intervention in Osun’s worsening security situation.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Emmanuel Olowu, praised the IGP’s directive for an immediate end to political violence and killings, his order that all perpetrators be arrested irrespective of political affiliation, and his personal visit to the state for an on-the-spot assessment.
According to the CSOs, these actions have led to a noticeable reduction in political violence and proved that peace is achievable when the Nigeria Police Force acts professionally and impartially.
However, the group said the same cannot be said of the Osun State Police Command under CP Gotan.
It alleged that the command deliberately refused to carry out its lawful duty of restoring peace until the firm directive came from the IGP, and maintained that Gotan has compromised the neutrality expected of the police.
The coalition referenced a confessional video allegedly made by one Oriyomi Olalekan, who was earlier paraded by the Osun Police as the suspect behind an alleged assassination attempt on the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Hon. Wole Oke.
The group said the video exposed serious inconsistencies in the police’s earlier claims.
It warned that if the account in the video is true, then the public was deliberately misled and the machinery of law enforcement was used to promote a false narrative for political purposes.
“Nothing is more dangerous to democracy and the rule of law than a police command that appears willing to abandon professionalism to satisfy political interests,” the CSOs stated.
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