Accord Demands Removal Of Osun Police Commissioner Over Rising Violence

Accord Party has called for the immediate removal of the Osun State commissioner of police, Ibrahim Gotan, for allegedly failing to curb political violence and protect the electorate ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The party’s national publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, said Accord has lost confidence in the commissioner’s ability to maintain law and order amid the persistent attacks on its members and supporters by suspected thugs linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Accord said political violence had escalated across Osun State, particularly in Osogbo and Ede, where armed groups intimidate, harass, injure and kill residents and its supporters.

In a statement yesterday, the party said that despite reporting several incidents to both the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS), no arrests or prosecutions had been done.

“Accord has lost confidence in the ability and capacity of the Osun State commissioner of police to curb violence and politically motivated killings involving well-known APC thugs who operate in broad daylight,” Omorogbe said.

The party claimed that several of its leaders, members and supporters had been killed or injured in recent months. It also alleged that its state secretariat, the Imole Campaign Council office and campaign billboards had been targeted in attacks it described as some of the worst incidents of political violence in the state’s history.

Accord particularly condemned the killing of a 14-year-old boy, identified as Ezekiel Olapade, who was reportedly shot dead on 21 June in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area.

According to the party, the incident occurred when armed political thugs allegedly opened fire near the local government secretariat after spotting an Accord supporter wearing a party cap. The boy was said to have been killed while attempting to help his mother escape from the chaos.

“Our hearts still bleed over the gruesome killing of a 14-year-old boy identified as Ezekiel Olapade,” the statement said, describing the attack as “absolutely despicable and inhuman.”

The party called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and the National Security Adviser to intervene and restore security across the state.

It urged the Inspector-General of Police to immediately transfer the Osun police commissioner, arguing that he had failed to discharge his duties impartially and effectively.

“Politics is not a do-or-die affair. The political ambition of any electoral contestant does not worth the blood of fellow compatriots,” the party stated.

Accord also appealed to political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and reject violence, warning that any attempt to undermine democratic participation in the forthcoming governorship election would constitute an attack on Nigeria’s democracy.

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet,” the party declared.

Despite the tensions, Accord expressed confidence in its prospects in the election. It reaffirmed its support for Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, whom it praised for what it described as transformative leadership despite political provocations.

The party urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and committed to peaceful democratic participation as the state prepares for the 15 August governorship poll.