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.
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