The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has explained that the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gotan, was directed to step aside ahead of the August 15 governorship election in order to strengthen public confidence in the neutrality of the police.
Disu said the decision was not a disciplinary measure against Gotan but a precautionary step taken after political parties raised concerns about the impartiality of the Osun State Police Command.
The IGP disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a meeting with a delegation of civil society organisations led by the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, where election security preparations in Osun State were discussed.
According to him, the Electoral Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale Etaifo, has already taken over responsibility for election security in the state, while the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of elections will also assume his duties.
Disu said the police acted after intelligence reports indicated a rise in political violence in Osun, with rival cult groups allegedly linked to political actors involved in some of the unrest.
“During my visit, I had meetings with political parties. And at the same time, we deployed teams earlier when we noticed the increase in violence,” he said.
“For the first time, we deployed the Electoral Commissioner, who is taking charge of the elections, earlier than usual when we noticed that certain groups of politicians or parties have been complaining that they no longer trust the Commissioner of Police.”
He added:
“So the Commissioner of Police was asked to stand aside, while the Electoral Commissioner of Police took over. And then the AIG in charge of elections will be moving in any moment.”
14,692 Police Officers For Osun Poll
The IGP also revealed that the Nigeria Police Force plans to deploy at least four officers to each of the 3,673 polling units across Osun State.
With the state comprising 30 local government areas and 332 wards, Disu said the deployment would involve a minimum of 14,692 police officers, excluding personnel from other security agencies participating in the operation.
He noted that the deployment would be larger than the one used during the last governorship election in Ekiti State because of the heightened tension surrounding the Osun poll.
“A great number of officers have been deployed to Osun. I’m sure you know that we have 30 local governments. We have 332 wards. And the polling units are 3,673,” he said.
“It’s a very large number of units, larger than the last election we conducted in Ekiti State.”
Disu added:
“We intend to have not less than four policemen in all the polling units.”
Senior Officers’ Assignments To Remain Secret
The police chief disclosed that senior officers deployed for the election may not know their specific local government assignments until the eve of the election or even election day.
According to him, the measure is intended to prevent politicians from identifying and attempting to influence officers assigned to particular areas.
“Everybody looks up to us now. The senior officers that have been deployed for that election have been noted down. We have their names,” he said.
“But so far, they do not know the local governments they will work in until probably the day or a day before they are deployed.”
He explained that the police had discovered attempts by politicians to determine which officers would be posted to specific local governments.
“In some instances that we notice, we feel that we have been compromised. We have made changes. And we are still going to make changes till the day the election is going to start,” Disu stated.
‘Police Will Remain Neutral’
The IGP assured Nigerians that the police would maintain neutrality throughout the election, describing the Osun governorship poll as an important test of the Force’s professionalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He warned officers against compromising the electoral process and said personnel found guilty of misconduct would face disciplinary action.
Disu also appealed to parents not to allow their children to participate in election-related violence.
“No political contest is worth the loss of life,” he said, recalling meetings he held with parents during his recent visit to Osun.
He urged them not to allow their children to be used as “cannon fodder” by politicians.
The IGP further cautioned political parties, candidates and supporters to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election, warning that anyone who violated the Electoral Act or other relevant laws would be prosecuted.
As part of efforts to ensure a level playing field, Disu announced that politicians and other individuals would not be permitted to move around with police escorts on election day.
The Osun governorship election is expected to be closely contested, with security agencies already intensifying preparations to prevent violence and ensure a credible electoral process across the state.
