The Nigeria Police Force has appointed a new Commissioner of Police for Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, replacing CP Ibrahim Gotan in a move that comes amid heightened political tension.
The newly deployed commissioner, Samuel Erale, will oversee security operations before, during and after the election.
Confirming the development on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said Erale had been posted to coordinate security arrangements for the governorship poll.
Although the Force did not officially disclose the reason for Gotan’s redeployment, the decision follows months of criticism from the Osun State Government, political stakeholders and civil society organisations, who accused the former commissioner of bias in the handling of politically sensitive matters.
Gotan’s reassignment came less than 24 hours after the release of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, who was arrested alongside five others during a police operation at his residence over allegations of vote-buying and harbouring a wanted suspect.
The raid drew sharp condemnation from the Osun State Government and the ruling Accord Party, both of which accused security agencies of using intimidation tactics against government officials in the build-up to the election.
The deployment of a new police commissioner is expected to shape security operations as political activities intensify ahead of the August 15 governorship contest.
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