Tension Rocks Osun Ahead of Governorship Election as Residents Demand Removal of Police Commissioner Over Alleged Bias

Tension Rocks Osun Ahead of Governorship Election as Residents Demand Removal of Police Commissioner Over Alleged Bias

June 15, 2026

 Political tension is escalating in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election as residents and civil society organisations have intensified calls for the immediate redeployment of the state's Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, over allegations of bias and partisan conduct.

On Monday, residents staged a protest in parts of the state, expressing concerns over what they described as the deteriorating security situation and the inability of security agencies to maintain neutrality as political activities intensify.

The protesters alleged that increasing incidents of political violence across the state have been fuelled by the failure of law enforcement authorities to investigate, arrest and prosecute individuals responsible for politically motivated attacks.

According to them, the absence of accountability has emboldened political thugs and created an atmosphere of fear among citizens ahead of the crucial governorship election.

"We are demanding the transfer of the police commissioner over bias as the election approaches," one of the protesters declared during the demonstration.

The protest comes amid growing anxiety among residents, political stakeholders and civil society organisations over the preparedness of security agencies to guarantee a peaceful, free and credible electoral process.

Adding to the pressure, a coalition operating under the umbrella of the Network of Osun Civil Society Groups issued a strongly worded statement calling on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to immediately redeploy Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan from Osun State.

The coalition cited alleged partisanship, unprofessional conduct and what it described as a compromised approach to policing ahead of the election.

The statement, released on Monday, June 15, 2026, was jointly signed by Olowu Emmanuel of Social Economic and Civil Rights Advocacy (SECRA), Tobiloba Richards Agboola of Good Governance Initiative (GGI), Raufu Sodiq Akinkunmi of Youths for Better Nigeria, Olanrewaju Stephen of the Centre for Accountability and Democracy, and Janet Olayemi Gbadebo of Grassroots Watch.

The organisations expressed deep concern over what they described as a worsening security environment and a growing erosion of public trust in the neutrality of the Nigeria Police Force in Osun State.

"The Network of Osun Civil Society Groups hereby expresses its profound concern over the worsening security situation, escalating political tension and growing public distrust in the neutrality of the Nigeria Police Force in Osun State as the state approaches the governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026," the statement read.

The coalition further stated that its concerns were not based on isolated incidents but on what it described as a recurring pattern of events that have weakened public confidence in the police command's ability to provide impartial security leadership during a sensitive political period.

The groups highlighted several incidents of political unrest, including the alleged vandalisation of campaign billboards between May 8 and May 9, 2026, across multiple local government areas such as Irewole, Ayedaade, Ife, Irepodun, Oriade and Osogbo.

According to them, despite widespread public outrage over the incidents, there has been little visible progress regarding investigations, arrests or prosecutions.

The coalition warned that the lack of decisive action risks undermining confidence in the electoral process and could further heighten tensions in the state.

They urged the Inspector-General of Police to act swiftly in order to restore public trust and reassure residents that security agencies remain independent and committed to safeguarding democracy.

"The preservation of democracy requires not only impartial institutions but also public confidence in those institutions. The ballot must prevail over the bullet. Democracy must triumph over violence, fear, intimidation and every form of perceived institutional bias," the statement added.

The latest developments come amid existing disagreements between political actors over the source of the pre-election violence.

While the Osun State Government has accused the police command of failing to effectively tackle rising insecurity, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the allegations and instead accused Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration and members of the Accord Party of being responsible for the unrest.

With less than two months before voters head to the polls, concerns are mounting over whether security agencies can maintain neutrality and guarantee a peaceful electoral atmosphere.

Political observers have warned that unless urgent steps are taken to rebuild public confidence and address security concerns, tensions could intensify further, potentially threatening the integrity and credibility of one of the state's most important democratic exercises.

As the countdown to August 15 continues, many residents say they are watching closely and expect authorities to prioritise peace, accountability and fairness above political interests