Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to direct the Osun State Police Command to immediately cease what he described as support for "sacked" local government chairmen following a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Osogbo on Monday. Addressing journalists during a press briefing on recent political developments in the state, Adeleke said the court's dismissal of an application seeking tenure elongation for the chairmen affirmed that their tenure had legally expired. The governor congratulated what he described as the authentic elected local government chairmen, noting that the judgment aligned with constitutional provisions and reinforced the Supreme Court's position that tenure elongation is unconstitutional. According to Adeleke, the court also ruled that the affected chairmen lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, further weakening their claim to office. "Based on today's judgment, I the...
Osun CSOs, NANS Demand Redeployment of Police Commissioner Over Alleged Partisanship Ahead of Governorship Election
Oriontimes News Desk| June 15, 2026
A coalition of civil society organizations under the Network of Osun Civil Society Groups, alongside members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), staged a protest in Osogbo on Monday, demanding the immediate redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Gotan, over allegations of partiality and concerns about security ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The protest, which commenced at Freedom Park in Osogbo, moved through Oke-Fia and other strategic areas of the state capital. Protesters carried placards bearing various inscriptions expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of security matters in the state and accusing the police leadership of bias.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, former Southwest General Secretary of NANS, Comrade Oluwole Tunde Aboke, said confidence in the Commissioner of Police had significantly declined among students and many residents of the state.
According to him, citizens expect security agencies to remain neutral and prioritize the protection of lives and property, especially following recent incidents of unrest in parts of Osun State.
"We believe students are critical stakeholders in the democratic process. The trust many people had in the Commissioner of Police has eroded. We expect the police and other security agencies, including the DSS, to identify and arrest individuals responsible for disturbing the peace of the state rather than appearing to take sides," he said.
Aboke also alleged inconsistency in the enforcement of directives issued by the police command.
"There was a directive from the Commissioner of Police prohibiting political gatherings, yet shortly afterward, a political party was allowed to hold an event where canvassers were inaugurated. This raised serious concerns and prompted NANS, in collaboration with civil society organizations, to organize this peaceful protest," he added.
The student leader emphasized that the protest was not only about the conduct of the police commissioner but also about ensuring a credible electoral process in the state.
"We are agitating for a free, fair and credible governorship election on August 15, 2026. The essence of this protest is to alert Nigerians and the people of Osun State to the need for adequate security during the election. We do not want a situation where democratic principles are undermined, nor do we want history to repeat itself," he said.
Also speaking, the Convener of the Network of Osun Civil Society Groups, Wale Balogun, said the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government as provided by the Constitution.
He noted that residents of the state deserve an atmosphere free from fear and intimidation as political activities intensify ahead of the governorship poll.
"The primary objective of government, as clearly stated in Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution, is the security and welfare of the people. We do not want the lives of Osun residents endangered because of political interests or security lapses," Balogun stated.
He further referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Democracy Day remarks, in which the President emphasized the need for credible elections across the country, urging relevant authorities to take proactive steps to prevent any security crisis in Osun State.
"We are calling for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police to avert any looming crisis and to restore public confidence in the security architecture of the state ahead of the election," he added.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, a representative of the Osun State Police Command received the protesters' demands and assured them that the command remains committed to maintaining law and order.
The police representative urged the demonstrators to remain peaceful and assured them that their concerns would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for consideration.
He reiterated the commitment of the police to ensuring security, protecting democratic processes, and maintaining normalcy across the state.
Comments
Post a Comment
Join the conversation!
Have insights, corrections, or questions about this news story? Drop your comment below. We value civil, fact-based discussion.