The Imole Campaign Council, the campaign council of Governor Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to reassure residents of Osun State of a peaceful, violence-free and impartial governorship election on August 15.
In a statement on Monday by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council urged the police leadership to ensure neutrality in the conduct of security personnel before, during and after the poll.
The council said the IGP should publicly assure the people of the state that officers deployed for election duties would act professionally and fairly.
“The Inspector-General of Police must address the people of Osun State and assure them of a violence-free poll on August 15, 2026. He must back his words by action and ensure the neutrality and impartiality of his men all through the election,” the statement partly read.
The campaign council also expressed concern over the reinstatement of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan as the Osun State Commissioner of Police, alleging that some actions taken under his watch had raised questions about the neutrality of the police command.
The council urged the Inspector-General to ensure that security agencies do not become instruments of intimidation against any political group during the election.
It also called for an end to what it described as the use of arrests and detention to harass political opponents, stressing that credible elections require impartial security agencies.
Several calls to the Force spokesman, Anietie Iniedu, rang out but were not picked.
He has yet to respond to a message sent to him on the matter.
The call comes less than two weeks before the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, for which the Independent National Electoral Commission has concluded preparations.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, are expected to play a central role in maintaining law and order during the poll.
The appeal also follows recent debates over police deployments in the state after reports of changes in the leadership of the Osun State Police Command.
While political parties have continued to call for neutrality by security agencies, the Nigeria Police Force has consistently maintained that its personnel are guided by professionalism and remain non-partisan during elections.
(The Whistler)