Osun 2026: Accord Demands Removal Of Police Commissioner Over Rising Political Violence
The national leadership of the Accord Party has called for the immediate removal of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, alleging failure to curb escalating political violence and attacks on its members ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election in the state.
The party said it had lost confidence in the capacity of the police commissioner to maintain law and order, accusing him of failing to address cases of violence, intimidation, and killings allegedly perpetrated by political thugs.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, Accord alleged that its members and supporters had been repeatedly targeted in attacks across Osun State, particularly in Osogbo and Ede.
According to the statement, reports of the attacks were submitted to both the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), but no arrests or prosecutions have been made.
The party claimed that several of its leaders, members, and supporters had been killed or injured in politically motivated violence, while its state secretariat, Imole Campaign Council office, and campaign billboards had also been attacked and vandalised.
Accord particularly condemned the killing of a 14-year-old boy, identified as Ezekiel Olapade, who was reportedly shot dead on June 21, 2026, in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area. The party alleged that the incident occurred during a violent attack by suspected political thugs.
Describing the incident as “dastardly, despicable and inhuman,” the party called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and the National Security Adviser to intervene and restore security in the state.
The party urged the Inspector-General of Police to redeploy the Osun State Commissioner of Police, alleging that he had failed to effectively protect lives and property and bring perpetrators of political violence to justice.
Accord further stressed that politics should not be a “do-or-die affair,” warning against the use of violence in the electoral process.
The party called on political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and allow voters to freely choose their preferred candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.
“Any threat to democratic participation in the August 15 gubernatorial election is an attack on democracy and must be resisted by all lovers of representative governance,” the statement said.
Accord also declared that it would not be intimidated by what it described as anti-democratic forces seeking to undermine its political activities in the state.
The party commended Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for what it described as his leadership and commitment to governance despite political tensions in the state.
The statement expressed confidence that the people of Osun State would continue to support the governor’s administration and its development agenda ahead of the election.
